An atmospheric book full of people hiding secrets, affairs, a death (murder?) , and astrology? This book was right up my alley. I was honestly surprised that it was a debut written by a new author, as she seems to have mostly hit her stride. The pacing and character development was on point for this story, even though I didn't necessarily like all the characters. (Because they were doing sucky things- not anything the actual author did or didn't do!) There were times that certain things were a little left of center, but they always seemed to right themselves one way or another. I think Carinn Jade has a lot of talent, and I'm super excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley, as well as the publisher, for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Astrology House in return for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own; any books I recommend at my job are because I've personally read-and enjoyed- them.

The Astrology House first captured my interest by its name alone: I’ve loved astrology for many years and always enjoy seeing it used in novels. It’s a theme in some new romance releases this summer, but this is my first time seeing it used in a thriller. Here, we follow a group of friends (four married couples) who go on a vacation together each year; this time, they’ve booked a weekend at an astrology-themed retreat. Each will get their own astrology reading, a couple compatibility reading, and other fun, zodiac-related activities. But the planets are at work to bring out long-buried secrets, put new actions in motion, and change the course of their lives.

I love the premise of The Astrology House and how it weaves in astrological themes, especially early on. Each character is introduced with a page outlining their three major signs (Sun, Moon, and Rising), their relationships with the other guests, and pertinent information about their upcoming transformation, from an astrologer’s perspective. With my 20 years of astrological knowledge, I enjoyed seeing these snapshots of the characters’ zodiac-based personalities.

For most of the novel, we move between several POV characters: Margot, her brother Adam, his wife Aimee, Aimee’s best friend Farrah, and the Astrology House’s hostess, Rini. They’re easy to keep track of, each with their own personalities and motives. Bit by bit, the characters reveal not only where they’re at, mentally, during this weekend retreat, but also layers of their own pasts. Secrets they’ve kept, regrets they have, worries for their future…

In contrast to many thrillers I’ve read, The Astrology House doesn’t raise the stakes early on. There are no flash forward scenes teasing murder and mayhem. There isn’t a drastically increasing sense of dread and danger throughout. Rather, it unravels slowly, like a domestic drama with themes of motherhood and fertility, infidelity, and family trauma. It’s more psychological, but still has some exciting twists and action towards the end. Who here is bad? Who’s even worse?

The Astrology House is an intricate and dramatic psychological thriller, built more on domestic suspense than heart-racing action. I would have liked to see astrology play a bigger role in the ending sequence, but nonetheless, I enjoyed the whole book. – Reviewer: Amanda: Gemini Sun, Cancer Moon, Taurus Rising

Eight wealthy Manhattanites, each dealing with their problems and harboring secrets, hope to unwind, disconnect, reconnect and find some peace of mind with the help of Rini, resident astrologist and owner of Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat in Long Island, over a weekend. The four couples are known to one another, but little did they expect that the idyllic weekend would not only expose the dysfunctional relationships and secrets between spouses, siblings and trusted friends but also lead to revelations that could potentially fracture these relationships beyond repair. Was the weekend deliberately designed to wreak havoc in their lives? What is Rini’s agenda? Are they being manipulated or is someone among them responsible for the strange events? Chaos ensues as the group is trapped due to inclement weather.

I was intrigued by the premise of The Astrology House by Carinn Jade, I found the concept of an astrology-guided retreat really interesting and loved how the author incorporated the astrology aspect into the narrative. I also enjoyed the suspenseful, claustrophobic vibe, the setting and the description of the old Victorian house and the rooms. The novel features a large cast of characters but is skillfully structured such that it is not difficult to follow who is who and how they are connected. The narrative, which flows well, is shared from multiple first-person POVs, which gives us a well-rounded picture of the events that gradually unfold. Though the pacing is a tad uneven, the author injects enough twists and surprises to keep you engaged. The climax is truly shocking.

Barring Rini, I didn’t find any of the characters particularly interesting, though each of the characters was well-fleshed out, complex and flawed, which definitely contributed to the drama. However, the drama did get a tad too soapy for my liking, and I thought the author piled on more than was required in this aspect, especially for a novel in the mystery/thriller genre.

However, overall, I did find this to be a promising debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this promising new author in the future.

Many thanks to Atria Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Eight friends decide take a retreat to the Astrology House-a unique resort run by Rini and a place which promises relaxation and insight into their lives using (you guessed it) astrology. What starts as a normal retreat soon turns dark as a storm rolls in and we find that this particular group visiting this resort is not here just by chance as the past comes back to haunt them it is clear there is something far more ominous is in the works. So, this book reminded me quite a bit of Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. I really like the astrology angle of it all.. There are many characters to keep track of here and this was something that did trip me up a bit. I think it was good for a debut and if you a thriller fan you'll like it. Just be aware there are several characters that have zero redeeming qualities and a few that are frustratingly lacking in backbone as well. The big reveal for why they were all drawn to Astrology House was something I did not figure out before the end so bonus points for that.

A group of wealthy friends book a vacation trip to the Astrology House. They will relax and get their charts read. They each have secrets, of course, but Rini the astrologist, has hers as well. These characters were very hard to like and have any feeling for what happens to them. I was just waiting for the inevitable crashing climax and boy, that part did not disappoint. It made the slow trek to get there almost worth it all.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for a copy for review.

When Margot books a weekend stay at an astrology-themed BnB with her friends, she wants more than a glimpse into the future--she wants to reconnect with her distant brother, Adam. However, proprietor and resident astrologer Rini has an agenda of her own which sets the weekend hurtling toward its deadly conclusion.

Thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I enjoyed this one, though I wouldn't have picked it up if not for the astrology elements. Parts of it were quite predictable, but I thought the twist at the end still had a nice payoff. I know some people didn't enjoy the multiple POV take and I agree that there could have been fewer POV characters, but I truly enjoyed the way the author seeded information that took on different meanings depending upon which character was interpreting it. Nearly every interpersonal relationship could have used more development, and I'm bummed there wasn't much resolution to Aimee and Farah's story line. These few critiques aside, it was a fun read.

Many thanks to Atria for the ARC!

This was a bit out of my comfort zone with the astrology aspect, so initially it wasn’t on my TBR. After connecting with the author, she convinced me to give it a shot anyways!

The mystery element of this book was solid, and the cast of characters was plenty to keep me on my toes. At times I did feel confused about which POV I was in, but I was listening to the audio so that could’ve been part of it.

If you asked me now if the story is still out of my comfort zone with the astrological elements, I would say that it is. The thriller itself is a good story, but those elements for me just aren’t what I typically choose to read. I would encourage you to pick up this book if that aspect does appeal to you, you’ll enjoy the read. The author is super kind as well, so that’s a bonus! It’s always nice to read a book knowing the person behind it is someone I’d want to support.

A group of friends from Manhattan sign up for an Astrology retreat in the Hamptons for a weekend of relaxation and fun. However, the close proximity forces old secrets to resurface and current troubles to exacerbate, and you quickly begin to wonder how the weekend will end.

This is my third astrology themed book this summer, and I love how each one feels so different. Jade’s wrote such fun story that explored the complicated dynamics of a close friend group. Despite having a large cast of characters, all with their own POC, the writing was easy to follow. Even on audio, I swept away by the full cast narration, and thought all the narrators did a great job giving the characters a personality of their own. There is also a cheat sheet in the beginning of the book (which the author is also sharing on her IG if you do audio) that I think makes the web much easier to follow!

Read if you like:
-Rich people behaving badly
-Suspense and mystery
-Hamptons setting
-Locked in thrillers
-Astrology
-Big cast of characters
-The Guest List

Thank you Simon Audio and Atria for the ALC!

Brother and sister Margot and Adam have been struggling to connect. Life is busy, work is hectic, and it’s harder to spend time together. So they decide to spend several days at Astrology House, like a vacation for their families and best friends, but with readings that can help them gain some clarity about their challenges. There are four couples in all, and all of them have packed up their secrets for the weekend to bring to Long island.

Rini and her sister Andi were young when their father left, but he put a piece of land in trust for them for when they turned 18. They got 3 acres of property on Long Island with a rickety Victorian house. After years of restoration, thanks to a kind local contractor and lots of home rehabbing shows, the house was ready for guests. And since Rini had been studying astrology since she was a kid, they named their home Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat and opened it to guests looking for a unique experience in a lovely vacation home.

Adam is a writer and college professor, and his wife Aimee worked for magazines before she quit to concentrate on her kids, and now she creates beautiful photos for her social media. Margot is a lawyer who desperately wants kids, and her husband Ted is in finance along with his friend Rick. Rick’s wife Eden is a popular wellness influencer. And Farah is an obstetrician to the extremely wealthy, and her husband Joe is a charismatic politician.

RIni offers up individual readings as well as couple readings for the guests, but there are things happening in the house that aren’t part of her schedule. Tarot cards appear as if from nowhere, and they have multiple meanings, some being contradictory. There are notes left for some of the guests. And there is a storm brewing, adding to the feeling that there is something in the air, something unstable. Maybe even dangerous. But it’s not until Rini starts to get them to drop their guards and start spilling their secrets that things get deadly.

Rini knew that this weekend would be a challenge to her, but she never told anyone the secret she kept about it. She never even told her sister. But she knew this would weekend would end her. And it did.

The Astrology House is a zesty thriller from debut author Carinn Jade. It blends a locked-room mystery with questions of fate or free will as the vacationing New Yorkers learn more about the movements of the planets and what that means for them. Relationships change, long-held beliefs are shattered, and dangerous secrets come to light as these adults come to terms with the decisions they had made over the last ten years. It’s a twisty tale of choices and consequences.

I really enjoyed The Astrology House. I liked the slow reveals of the secrets, and the way that there was a ghostly presence to the house itself. The questions of free will versus fate were compelling. However, there were several characters that were very hard to like, so there were some parts of the book that felt a little flat to me. But I still really liked this book, and I think Jade seems like a smart writer who will only get stronger. If you are a fan of locked-room mysteries with more secrets than you can anticipate, then give The Astrology House a try. You just might find that your horoscope is telling you to read more thrillers.

Egalleys for The Astrology House were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I couldn’t put this book down! I was hooked from the beginning to the end, and while I figured some of the twists out I didn’t see the whole big reveal coming. Definitely an attention-grabbing story!

The Astrology House first grabbed my attention because while I don’t know much about it, I find it fascinating. It added so much to this already layered mystery. Rini intrigued me and her path in the book was my favorite. This was a great locked room suspense with twists I found really fun.

I’ve always been fascinated by the insight into my Libra ways & while it’s been a minute since I’ve had a tarot card reading, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book.

A group of wealthy, married friends escape Manhattan to spend a weekend on Long Island at the Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat. It’s a chance for them to get away. Rest. Unwind. Enjoy some cocktails. Do yoga. Reconnect with their spouses. Reunite with friends. And engage in personalized astrological readings.

But a weekend with this group is sure to guarantee some flying sparks as secrets are revealed and old resentments arise. Rini, is their host + the resident astrologer, and she has some very specific plans for her guests. And we know from the start that someone’s fated to not make it out of this weekend alive.

I really do love a story of rich people behaving badly and this group knows how to deliver on that promise. We get a semi-isolated location (long walks + quick car rides aside). The Victorian home that serves as the backdrop for this story is a character all its own. With turrets and a dumbwaiter and an off-limits wing, it’s both beautiful but mysterious + the perfect setting for a thriller.

One of the many clever things Carinn does to orient the reader, is she creates an Astro Cheat Sheet with the names, signs, relationships and special notes on the characters. They each have a distinct voice and I found the the astrological insights to be so fascinating. As for the other clever things, well, *spoilers*, so you’re going to have to read for yourself to find out.

This is a fast-paced and fun thriller of a ride with a dose of darkness 🖤

I love astrology so I was so excited to get into this book. Loved the concept of the astrology house and the confessions and twists were really good too! I enjoyed this read!

I requested an ARC on Carinn Jade’s debut novel “The Astrology House” because I thought it had an interesting premise. I also have a fondness for locked-room mysteries.

There are four couples who head to the Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat for a getaway. We have 1) Margot and her husband, Ted; 2) Margot’s brother, Adam, and his wife, Aimee; 3) Farah (who is Aimee’s friend) and her husband, Joe; and finally 4) Eden and her husband, Rick. The owner of the Retreat is Rini and the reader knows from the start that she has secrets.

I thought the characters were warranted and had their places in the story. However, at the beginning it was hard to keep track of everyone and how they related to each other. The author drops little hints throughout the book about the reason behind Rini wanting a few of the people, in particular, to book their stay there. I had the motive pretty much figured out, but there was still a twist (or two) that was a pleasant surprise.

There were a few parts of the book that were uneven, but I chalked it up to it being the author’s first book. Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Carinn Jade's The Astrology House is a quick, twisty read with a unique setting. Everyone is hiding something and looking for answers at the weekend retreat. I enjoyed the astrological references and descriptions. All in all, an entertaining, fun locked-room mystery.

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of "The Astrology House" over the weekend. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was captivating, with a plot that kept me engrossed from start to finish. The characters were well-developed and engaging, and the integration of astrology throughout the narrative added a unique and intriguing element to the story. I highly recommend adding "The Astrology House" to your summer reading list!

This was a solid, middle of the road thriller. It’s full of unlikeable characters with secrets. Unfortunately/fortunately, this weekend at an astrology retreat is about to spill them all. I know nothing about astrology, and some of those parts with readings and planetary alignments were a bit woo-woo for me. I felt like the first 2/3 of the book was a little slow, as it was all about the character interaction and some sneaking around behind each other’s backs. The last third brings a hurricane and all of the intense emotions and accusations begin to blow up. A couple of twisty endings (one of them was a bit predictable) but the storyline definitely ended with a bang. Not my favorite of the year but worth the read.

Thanks to Carinn Jade and Atria Books for providing the ARC.

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade was a gripping story filled with edge of your seat suspense.
This book had me hooked from the start and I could not put it down. There was plenty of twist to keep things interesting and well developed characters. The story is suspenseful and twisty from the beginning to the end.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley, for the free E-copy for review.

When I first picked up this book, I had no idea what to expect, but once I started, I couldn't put it down. It's a slow-building thriller that allows us to truly get to know the characters. The author skillfully unveils their complexities, making us feel like we're witnessing their unraveling firsthand. I've always been drawn to stories where characters' pasts drive the plot, and the twist in this book is truly captivating.

True to its title, this book is rich with astrology elements, seamlessly integrated into the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the astrology readings, adding a fresh and engaging dimension to the story.

Overall, I found this book to be a heart-pounding experience, filled with intense confrontations that also prompt the reader to contemplate the age-old question of fate versus free will.

Thank you so much net galley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! This book was a three start read for me.. not bad but also not necessarily memorable in my opinion . However some people may really enjoy this so I state that in my review!