I loved the poetic writing of Isabel Strychacz in this YA gothic paranormal novel. House of Thorns is about a house that the Peachtree sisters inherited. It was known to be haunted, and haunted it was. The oldest sister Avery went missing one fateful night and Ali the middle sister is determined that Avery is stuck somewhere in the house. Sisters Ali and Lia go on a quest to find their missing sister after 5 years of sadness and despair. I thought that this book was beautifully written, but lacked details and could have really gone into more of the rich layers, literally, of Brier Hall. I would say this book is a 3.5 star read for me. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this eARC.

Thanks to Netgalley for this e-ARC.

I was drawn to this book first by the eerie cover and title, and the synopsis just sold me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It had those creepy haunted house vibes and the constant questioning of what’s real or not. I wasn’t actually as spooked as I thought I would be but it didn’t bother me. This book is not only about the mysterious haunting of a passed down family home but it’s also a story about sisters. I felt for these sisters and their strong will to be there for one another even when things got weird and unexplainable. I was able to predict and solve some of the mysteries which didn’t bother me too much. This book reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House ( which I’ve only seen the show of). I could imagine this being a very cool Netflix show. That plot twist was cool in my opinion and the end! I don’t know what to think about the end as I am still processing what I read. I gave this 4 stars because it kept me wanting more and I was constantly thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. I also think it was beautifully written in a lyrical sort of way. It made the creepy things seem enchanting.

Avery went missing five years ago. What happened that terrifying night the Peartree family fled their ancestral home, Brier Hall? When three sisters entered the house only two escaped.
Now Ali is convinced that she needs to return to Brier Hall to find her sister. However, Lia is not ready to return to the house of nightmares. She has suppressed as many memories of their time in their previous home and is not ready to return and remember what she wants to forget. Lia is convinced that Brier Hall is alive, somehow searching and calling them back home. But when Ali goes missing Lia must find out if she is another drug bender or if she truly went back to Brier Hall. Can she find her sister before it is too late? Or will the same thing that happened to Avery take Ali too?
Overall rating 4/5
Reminiscent of Poe, this gothic story is well developed and successfully spooky. The only issue I had with this book is that it is almost exact rendition of The Haunting of Hill House at least with the same key points in the plot. I wish we got to see more from the mother and her experience at Brier Hall. I think this would have added to the storyline to help us understand why she is so detached from life. The eerie atmosphere and world building created a sense of dread, not knowing what would happen to the characters. Especially seeing this develop through the intense anxiety in Lia. After reading this book I couldn’t help but feel as if I shouldn't look in a mirror at night.

*Thank you to Isabel Strychacz, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

I am still speechless about this book because, in all honesty, it was so captivating. This book tells the story of the Peartree girls, three sisters that inherit the house of their now 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 dead father, that they never really knew (not out main character at least) & given their circumstances, they decide to inhabit said house. Brier Hall is big & interesting & full of secrets. Brier Hall is a house with memories & sometimes, memories haunt the bravest person out there.⠀
I liked it from beginning to end, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 the ending, i think the book has a way to draw you in, to keep you on your toes, to reveal the mysteries 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 at the right time. It's been a while since i read a book this captivating, this beautifully crafted work that made me think of Shirley Jackson & her haunted house, of Nell & her many siblings, of a emotionally unavailable mother trying to live with what life has given, & taken, her. Lia with the never ending burden of being the perfect child, Ali trying to escape reality & the ever young Avery who got lost in time. Each one of the girls have something that makes them relatable, nuanced, resilient. ⠀
I really liked the whole book. I'm neutral to the romance, but i 𝘥𝘪𝘥 like that there was barely any of it throughout the book, since it's not a genre, or one within another, that i consume. But it's for the readers who like the teenage love, the rebuilding bridges type of romance.⠀
All in all, a perfect way to 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 end august. I very much enjoyed it!⠀

This book is for every person who watched The Haunting of Hill House and it got them excited to read the Shirley Jackson book it was inspired by. Those who were then disappointed that it was very much not the same . House of Thorns by Isabel Strychacz is the book those fans of the show were looking for. A YA Gothic horror with multiple POVs, the strong bond of sisters, and a sentient house haunted by memories.
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I really didn't enjoy this title: I made it to 63% before I gave up. To be fair, it has been compared to The Haunting of Hill House, and I also disliked that title, but I just didn't find it very interesting. The creepy stuff that I thought might appeal to students moved very slowly, and I struggled to connect with the characters. It felt like we got dropped right into the middle of their emotional turmoil and I was supposed to care a lot about things I didn't fully understand. The dynamics between Lia and Ali were frustrating - Ali seemed awful, but Lia is desperate to connect with her again. And Lia's relationship with her childhood friend seems really fraught and intense given that they were both kids when Lia left the first time and just reconnected.

Maybe this book just wasn't for me, but I'm not sure it would grab the attention of the reluctant readers my audience (English teachers) is trying to reach.

ARC provided by Netgalley.

House of Thorns is a horror book that takes place in a classic, haunted house. It is full of heartbreak and examines the bonds between family, specifically the bonds between sisters. I recommend this for fans of The Haunting of Hill House or just Gothic horror in general.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I was so excited for the chance to read "House of Thorns," an upcoming YA horror / gothic, as it checked all my boxes - spooky atmosphere, ancestral trauma, and plenty of poetic prose. "House of Thorns," which follows Lia and her sister Ali as they return to their childhood home of Brier Hall, explores the trauma of two sisters whose lives were torn apart by their sister Avery's sudden disappearance five years prior to the start of the novel.

"House of Thorns," which is pitched as an atmospheric mystery/ horror in the vein of "The Haunting of Hill House" and "What Remains of Edith Finch" (IYKYN), definitely delivers on the vibes. The story is engaging right from the beginning, and Strychacz utilizes imagery and symbolism to weave a portrait of Brier that is as beautiful as it is unsettling. The prose was really lovely - I found myself highlighting multiple lines from the book, which I rarely do - and it was clear that Strychacz has a true love of the gothic novel. This book felt like a love letter to horror literature, and the inspirations shined through while still the story still felt fresh and new.

My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Lia and Ali. It felt true-to-life and as complex as any real sisterhood, and I appreciated that Lia and Ali manifested their traumas in such different ways. I did find myself wanting a little bit more depth on their relationship with their mother and the ways that their roles have affected their lives as a whole (Lia plays the role of the "golden child" whereas All has acted out) as well as how the time has affected Lia's relationships with others. There is a secondary romance between Lia and her childhood friend, Rafferty, which takes a back seat
(appropriately) to the terrifying events at Brier and to her evolving relationship with Ali.

As a whole, the book was engaging and moves at a rapid pace towards a conclusion that felt equal parts unsettling and satisfying. I loved the sisterly dynamics at play, and the romance was sweet yet subtle enough to not take away from the main plot.
Excited to read more from this author!

I’m a huge fan of Hill House so any comparison to that automatically puts a book on my radar. Compare that with the stunning cover and I couldn’t wait to dive into House of Thorns.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting, I struggled with it in the beginning and in the end I just felt like it was an okay read.

The marketing/art team on this book need bonuses. The cover, the jacket copy, all of that are excellent. However, comping this to Hill House is so off that mark and I was so disappointed. I did like the sisterly bond story that this book gives. My main problem is that Lia, the protagonist, is absolutely insufferable. However, she's a teenager and this is a YA book, so I am not the intended audience.

Mention The Haunting of Hill House as a comp title, and odds are I’ll read it.

Five years ago the Peartrees fled ancestral Brier Hall, leaving all their belongings behind – and oldest sister Avery. Despite thorough searches by law enforcement, she remains missing. Now approaching the five year anniversary of that night, Lia, older sister Ali, and their mother are still grieving, and their family is fractured. Convinced Avery is still at Brier Hall – somewhere – Ali returns and warns Lia not to follow her. But the house is calling for Lia to come home (some chapters are from the house’s POV).

First, let me say I plowed through this book in two sittings. I love a good haunted house story, and this one is brimming with atmosphere. Brier Hall has a history of strange occurrences, and those and the events that took place the night Lia’s family fled are woven into the story and explained over the course of several chapters. Before Lia goes to Brier Hall, she runs into former childhood best friend/crush Rafferty. She left without saying goodbye to him, hasn’t contacted him since, and he’s understandably still bitter about it. He’s tried to forget his own disturbing memories of the house, but nice guy that he is, he refuses to let Lia go there alone. Their relationships is sweet and believable, and the flawed sibling relationships are honest and relatable – nothing is sugar-coated.

Is a house haunted by ghosts or by echoes of things that happened over the years? I liked this premise and the way the story is constructed around it. I only wish the characters would have gotten to the house sooner. The first 30-35% of the novel is about Lia dealing with the fallout of everything that happened. I was ready for the action to start, but that’s just personal preference.

Recommended for readers who enjoy stories that leave them feeling off kilter, strong family bonds, and a heavy dose of the supernatural.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

House of Thorns is fine. It's about Lia, whose family inherited a house from her estranged father about 7 years ago. It was weird, they lived there for a few years, it got weirder, and it culminated five years ago when the family fled the house without her oldest sister, who hasn't really been seen since. Lia's mother is checked out and mostly ignores her and her other sister Ali has turned to drugs and is completely falling apart. Now, as the five year anniversary approaches, Ali becomes convinced that Avery is still alive and at the house, and so Lia follows her to make sure she doesn't lose another sister to Briar Hall.
Like I said, it was okay. The haunting is decent and creative and there are some very interesting facets there. It's a decently quick read. It was a bit predictable, but it was interesting.
My biggest complaint is that there is a lack of suspense. I don't know how. There's a lot of weird stuff that goes on, and the mystery of the haunting, and so much, but the only reason I kept reading is because I made myself keep reading. There was no burning desire to see what happened next. Things just happened. Suspense was not built. Lia is sometimes an annoying character, but mostly I tried to give her grace because she's a teenager who underwent severe trauma that has only compounded. I don't know how people would respond to that. Finally, her relationship to Raff was a little weird. They were friends for a couple years as kids and she has just...completely latched onto him like this? And when she comes back he's still definitely in love with her? I am so glad that at 18 I didn't date the kinds of people I liked at 13. That sounds like the truly haunting thing.
Altogether, it was okay. It was definitely readable.

I love the premise of this novel, and I love Jackson's "Haunting of Hill House" (if not the TV adaptation), so I had sky-high expectations going into this. It didn't quite live up to them, as I didn't fully click with the writing, but it was still a very solid YA horror book with deeper themes about grief, trauma, and family bonds.

Thank you NetGalley, Isabel Strychacz, and Simon & Schuster

How don't even know how to review this book.

I was not bad at all. I enjoyed the stroyline. But something about it just gave me the chills.

Three sister's and one goes missing-But does she?

And the house-Creepy.

This was a quick read and that I enjoyed.

You guys. This book!!
House of Thorns is so beautifully written. Isabel Strychacz is a master of prose that reads like poetry. I loved Lia’s determination to save her sisters and her relationship with Rafferty. The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorite shows, so I was excited to read this because it has a similar premise and it did not disappoint! It was deliciously creepy and the midpoint twist took me by surprise.
I gave it four stars because there were a couple parts where I felt like Lia’s interactions with other characters didn’t ring true. I think those could have been developed a bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
What an absolutely haunting and thrilling read. The characters, including the house itself, really made the story. There are so many secrets hiding in Briar Hall and those that have dwelled within it. Definitely a great read for the upcoming spooky season!

Content Warning: missing/death of a sister

This one was very interesting. There is a haunted house called Brier Hall that the Peartree family inherited but the story starts after an event that took place with the family there five years ago. There are hints about it being haunted, a Peartree sister going missing or died, another Peartree sister is on drugs and not coping well in their new town. Lia is trying to move on and forget when her sister Ali comes and says maybe their sister Avery isn’t missing or dead at all. They go back to the town where Brier Hall stands and will try to find Avery one last time.

The vibes are creepy, especially when they are back in the house. There are some memory flashback and we also get a second person, point of view from the house itself which is very creepy especially since I was reading this at night.

It’s a short book at 304 pages and the story moves on quickly to Lia and Ali being at the house but all the speculation of what they saw as kids growing up there and the mystery of it all was losing my attention and making me impatient for some big reveal. I thought the reveal was interesting but I wasn’t totally invested by then. I did like the sisterly bonds even though they had complicated feelings about one another which is normal in any sibling relationship.

My Final Thoughts:

There were some things I liked but I think I just wanted more. Maybe I’m not the right audience or just wasn’t in the right mood, but if you like sentient houses and lots of creepy vibes, you might like this one. This actually would be a good read for spooky season.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a creepy but not too creepy, atmospheric haunted house book. I didn't find the plot particularly engaging, but I liked the characters and the sisterly bonds.

The writing's decent and definitely fits the overall mood of the story. The ending left me wondering if there's more coming, but the story is pretty much complete if it doesn't. That's the best kind of ending in my opinion.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"House of Thorns" by Isabel Strychacz is a captivating YA ghost story that will haunt your mind long after you turn the final page. This book definitely reminded me of “The Haunting of Hill House,” and I absolutely loved it, especially as I was trying to figure out the secrets of the house alongside the characters. Some parts of the mystery are a bit confusing as you try to figure out what’s actually going on and what’s real (just like with “The Haunting of Hill House”), but it’s all worth it in the end.

Set in the eerie halls of Brier Hall, this book follows Lia who returns to her childhood home with her sister Ali and childhood friend Rafferty in search of their missing sister, Avery. The house itself becomes a character in its own right, with its sentient nature adding layers of complexity to the story. Strychacz's storytelling is hauntingly lyrical, drawing you into a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. While I wouldn’t really consider this book to be a horror story, there were definitely some creepy elements throughout.

The characters are the heart of the story, with Lia, Ali, and Rafferty forming a compelling trio whose bonds are tested by the mysteries lurking within Brier Hall. The sisterly relationships are particularly well-developed, with Strychacz capturing the depth of love and nostalgia that comes with siblinghood. The way that the relationship between Lia and Ali developed was very engaging as they came to terms with their shared trauma. I do wish there were more moments between the two of them, but the ending with their developed relationship was quite satisfying.

The romance between Lia and Rafferty adds a sweet touch to the story without overshadowing the main plot, making it a perfect read for fans of supernatural YA with a hint of romance. The romance between them was sweet (I love the childhood friends to lovers troupe) though I don’t think it was necessary. However, Strychacz made sure the main focus throughout the book was on sisterly love, which I appreciated. I did find myself craving more answers as the story unfolds, particularly regarding the mysteries surrounding Brier Hall and its dark history. The pace was pretty fast, and I really like how the book ended.

Overall, "House of Thorns" is a must-read for fans of atmospheric supernatural mystery and heartfelt storytelling. Isabel Strychacz's mastery of suspense and emotion will leave readers eagerly awaiting her next chilling tale.

An engrossing, quick read. Characters you want to root for and a plot that feels like it has stakes. It's hard to find the words to describe the book, it's a must read for yourself