As the title indicates, there’s a lot of astrology in the book, which I found interesting and it did move the story forward. It gives it that slight mystical feeling and that along with the stormy weather plays up the atmospheric mood of the book. With everyone having a secret (or two or three), and Rini manipulating the weekend to expose one of the guests, everyone begins to unravel as the storm, both metaphorical and literal, draws near. However, SO MUCH DRAMA :(

I was intrigued by The Astrology House mostly for the astrological element, and then even more so when I realized it was about wealthy folks cooped up in an isolated home. The novel follows Rini, the owner and leader of the Stars Harbor Astrology Retreat, an opportunity for those who can afford a weekend away to delve deep into a particular flavour of introspection. Rini hosts the rest of our cast of characters at the retreat where each person is seeking clarity on something obfuscated from view - marital boredom, burgeoning attractions, desperation to have a family. Why does Rini seem particularly eager to welcome this group? And what will happen when people get answers to their questions that they do not like? This thriller has a strong concept (especially if you are already a dabbler in astrology), however, the execution did not follow through for me. The characters feel a bit flat (even for the genre) and the plotting starts off well but speeds up to a somehow anticlimactic climax that feels like it needs more editing. If you are like astrology memes and are looking for a quick read, go for this one. I like Jade's approach and would read from her again, with the hopes that the next book will grow from the signs I liked in this one.

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the egalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved this one! I enjoy books about resorts, and I'm into astrology so this one was a win for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review The Astrology House by Carinn Jade.

Picture this, four well-to-do couples have planned a weekend away at an astrology themed bed and breakfast on the coast. All the couples know one another and bring baggage of their own to this astrology reading/find yourself type of fun weekend away. Alongside the four couples, Rini the owner of the establishment is good at her job, but also brings an agenda of her own that the others are oblivious to.

This novel is twisty from the start, has multiple POVS throughout the story, an ending you won't expect, dysfunctional family dynamics, and lots of astrology. Some of the characters are very unlikeable (which I guess is the point), and one major character seemed very dependent and a little whiney. Of course, this does play to how the plot evolves throughout the book. This was a fast read for me and I was invested to how it would end. The Astrology House comes out on July 16th. Happy Reading!!!

Thank you Atria for the review copy!
I really had fun reading The Astrology House, I am not much into astrology but this structure and how it was used really struck me as original, engaging, and not "fluffy" at all. Instead Jade really took steps to weave in astrology as part of the suspense, creating tension with each chapter and I was impressed with how this added to the plot development and was effective at establishing key aspects of the characters in an efficient way.
There are a lot of great suspense and thriller tropes here as well, hints of domestic thriller themes, past and present secrets, toxic and complicated relationships, and hints of locked room/a dark and stormy night vibe... and yet the book still reads as original and engaging even with these themes in place.
This was the kind of book I really looked forward to picking up, was annoyed when life got in the way of finishing it as quickly as I wanted, and one that I think will be a win with a lot of suspense fans. I love a good suspense story that has such well developed and interesting character exploration.

2.5 stars!

I think where this was definitely a fun thriller was the integration of astrology. I don't know very much about astrology but it was interesting to have a character specialize it and then for the characters to internalize this to make the plot move forward.

Unfortunately I do feel like in other aspects this book was really lacking. It didn't really feel fresh or new, and there were a lot of portions (including the big/main reveal) that made me feel extremely icky. There are multiple POVs in this book and I do feel like a lot of the characters blended together and I only really differentiated them by the nominal struggle they were going through. I wasn't really rooting for anyone as they were all (with the exception of maybe one person) kinda bad people. Although I enjoy rich people drama, this just didn't work for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A good thriller that kept my interest. I love anything to do with astrology so this was interesting for me.

Wow, that was a great read! I just finished it. So, 8 people go on this astrological retreat at this beautiful & idyllic place called Stars Harbor, ran by an astrologer by the name of Rini. But, does Rini have some plans up her sleeve she's not revealing? You will have to read it yourself to find out!

This book is packed full of twisty turns that will leave you wanting more, and the ending is completely satisfying. I believe that this is Carinn Jade's first book, and if so, I will be reading every book she comes out with. What an excellent debut novel!

“The house is a wreck. ”
Here are reasons to read the Mystery book:

Astrological retreat - Margot has organized a weekend away at a house to participate in some astrology themed events
Family and Friends - she will unwind with her friends and family and generally just have a good time
So Many Secrets - THE END - Ok obviously not the end. They are all keeping secrets, including the people running the event
Death - and those secrets will keep from one of them returning home

So I went into this thinking it was going to be a lot creepier than it turned out to be. I would say this is more of a dramatic domestic mystery. Sure, there are a few twists at the end, and a few fake outs. But in general, learning about these people was just fine. I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them. However, the mystery did keep me reading so there is that.

Interesting premise...Great start and then it just gets a bit ridiculous and flat by the end. I think I could have been great, just a few less POV .
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

~2.75 stars

A promising start that fizzles out in the end is the way I would summarize this book.

Firstly, I ended up listening to the audiobook of this on libro.fm. It was read by a full cast, and I thought they all did great! If you're gonna pick this one up, I'd recommend the audio format.

When the mystery of this book unfolded and the climax of action occurred, I just felt confused. I didn't get why two characters were physically fighting. The 0 to 100 of that scene felt forced and unjustified.

And then several things were left unresolved with the characters. I just wish the story would've been executed better, because I felt like this had a lot of potential.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and libro.fm for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Full review to come, but I found this novel to be a well-paced, suspenseful story with a large cast of characters who remained distinct and were well-written (not easy to do). Enjoyed reading it by the pool, and think it will be a solid title to recommend for book clubs this summer and fall.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this eARC!

A group of wealthy friends attend a weekend astrology-themed retreat. Every one attending has a secret, but not as big as their host Rini. Filled with atmospheric descriptions and a web of drama and lies, this was a very alluring debut novel.

I really enjoyed this book, but it did get a little insane 2/3’s in. I found myself not understanding the plot at points. But I didn’t see the ending coming, and it was a good twist. Overall I really liked it!

The Astrology House
Written by Carinn Jade
Published by Atria Books
Release Date July 16, 2024


Stars Harbor Astrological retreat is offering something that Margot needs, rest and lots of relaxation. Oh and information from the stars about her life. As an attorney, she has just made partner and has been working so much that she has barely seen her home. She certainly needs a vacation and she has a few others that will be joining her. Adam, her brother, and his wife Aimee, who have been experiencing some trials in their marriage lately, as well as Farah. A Dr. friend who feels as though she is going crazy. Margot and her brother are not exactly close anymore and so she is hoping this retreat will help quite a few things. For her brother….well he wants his wife’s love and attention once again. The one who has the most to hide though happens to be the host, Rini. Someone is not going to have the best time of their life.

I have to say that I honestly had higher hopes for this book. It was really just a bunch of wealthy people who couldn’t deal with their problems and spent a ton of money to spend time at a retreat. It started out slow and never really picked up the pace but did seem to flow better. Told with multiple pov’s, it did not really seem to be a mystery/thriller. The characters were well developed and somewhat likable. The ending is worth the read though. I was extremely impressed with the authors ability to keep the ending a secret….no bread crumbs there.



4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, as well as the publisher for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The book and premise started out interesting to me and I was eager to get into the novel. But the story later got bogged down in astrology speak that wasn't clearly explained to the novice reader and became uninteresting. The analysis of each person's planetary influences seemed to be great to those readers who understand astrology, but to the uninitiated or novice, the terms were just words to be glossed over. Thus, the plot became unimportant, as did the people.

For the first few chapters, I was appreciating that the author introduced each new character with a sort of cheat sheet (actually one of their forms from the retreat) that gave their name, profession, and explained which of the other characters they were related to. Before long, though, most of them started to blur together and I'd stopped caring who was already having an affair, or wanted to have an affair, or had previously had an affair. There were some interesting questions about fate versus free will and one of the plot twists is actually pretty horrifying, but it took way too long to get to the interesting stuff.

Carinn Jade did an admirable job in this debut psychological novel that explores the relationships of four wealthy Manhattanites. This was a slow burn and I was immediately invested with the unique astrological retreat aspect in an old Victorian Mansion. However, I found the ending predictable and it became more drama than mystery thriller.

Read this if you like:
-multiple POVs
-unlikeable and unreliable characters/narrators
-creepy isolated Victorian mansion setting on water
-twists and turns
-exploration of friendships and marriages
-astrology
-locked room trope

My rating: 3 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC that will be published July 16 2024.

For the most part, I've enjoyed this book. At least to me, there were some predictable parts, but still were amazingly done. It was very interesting all the astrology charts parts, and the point of view of the characters and the connection between them, the past and the reason of that weekend in that retreat hotel, was well done. Congratulations to the author on her debut book, and thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book before publication! The review will be live on my blog on 7/3/24. I will also feature the review on Instagram that same day and post my review to Goodreads, The Storygraph, Fable, and retail sites.

Review:

I have always been fascinated by astrology. Do I live and die by it? Absolutely not, but do I enjoy finding connections between my birth chart and events in my life? You know I do. It was only natural that I would gravitate toward this book, and while it didn't quite hit all the marks of an amazing read, it was definitely entertaining.

Set at an astrological retreat at a themed Northeastern hotel, the story follows a group of friends fast approaching middle age and their mysterious host. Margot, a high-powered lawyer needing a break from her stressful life, desperately wants to be a mother. She is hoping for a sign that soon she will become pregnant and that she and her loving husband, Ted, will finally be parents. Margo also hopes to reconnect with her older brother, Adam, a successful writer. Adam is facing troubles in his marriage to Aimee, a successful mommy influencer. Aimee also brings her best friend Farah, an OBGYN who is struggling with some intense romantic feelings for Aimee while trying to figure out her marriage to a high-powered senator. Rounding out the guests are Eden and Rick, a polyamorous couple with a few secrets of their own. The eight guests plan for three days of relaxation and astrology readings, but Rini, their mysterious host, has secrets of her own, and the guests will soon find that the idyllic retreat holds dark secrets beneath its serene facade.

What I liked most about the book was how astrology was intricately woven throughout the narrative. Rini, the enigmatic astrologer host, skillfully guides the characters through their challenges and triumphs, using the stars as her compass. As the story unfolds, the influence of astrology on each character's journey becomes increasingly clear, adding a captivating layer of mysticism to the plot.

But don't be deceived by the tranquil setting of Stars Harbor - beneath the surface, a simmering tension builds, leading to a shocking twist. Secrets are unveiled, relationships are strained, and the true nature of each character is exposed.

Jade weaves a complex web of relationships and emotions, with each character grappling with inner demons. The narrative is replete with dark secrets, a theme I find intriguing, especially when it involves affluent individuals with self-imposed, messy, complicated issues. The story is narrated from the perspectives of five of the nine characters: Rini (the hotel owner), Margot, Aimee, Adam, and Farah. This balanced approach provides valuable insights into the relationships without overwhelming the story with too many viewpoints. I never felt disoriented or confused which often happens for me when there are too many characters.

While I enjoyed the premise and found the characters interesting, the problem for me was that there was a lot of buildup to a very lackluster ending. There were some pretty big bombs set up with some of these storylines that could have led to some very explosive confrontations, but each of them fizzled out as the plot progressed, which was very disappointing. I was also not a fan of the scene toward the end when everything came to a head. Was the twist surprising? Sure, but the entire climactic scene took place outside during a hurricane. While I can suspend disbelief pretty easily, I couldn't here. I lived in Texas for almost 16 years and weathered many hurricanes. You do not want to be outside during one, and you certainly wouldn't be able to have the conversations these people had while fighting off winds, torrential rain, and waves.

While I enjoyed the premise and found the characters interesting, there was a lot of buildup that fizzled and many missed opportunities for some really explosive drama. These were some messy people, and I felt that the neat resolution of their issues at the end didn't do justice to the complexity of their characters. It just didn't seem realistic. Overall, I liked it, but I didn't love it.

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade follows 4 couples as they embark on a weekend getaway at a resort that gives astrology readings. Each chapter is told by one of the guests that are on this trip. Rini the astrologer also has her own chapters on why these couples were brought to the Astrology House. Each have their own secrets that they do not want to share with the others in their group. This book had so many twists in it that I was floored by the ending. I was hooked by the frist chapter. Absolutely loved this one! I would like to thank both NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this book.