Vincent Ralph's One House Left is a chilling tale rooted in the eerie lore of Murder Road, where the vengeful spirit of the Hiding Boy has cast a long, dark shadow for decades. Sixteen-year-old Nate Campbell, trying to escape the curse with his family, finds himself drawn back into the nightmare when he joins an urban legend club in his new town. Ralph effectively builds an unsettling atmosphere, blending new and old ghost stories that blur the line between reality and myth. The suspense is palpable, and the haunting premise keeps the reader intrigued.

However, One House Left falls short in delivering a fully satisfying experience. While the buildup of tension is commendable, the pacing can be uneven, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on. The characters, particularly Nate, could have been more fleshed out to make their struggles more relatable and the stakes feel higher. Although the novel succeeds in creating a spooky ambiance, it doesn't quite manage to live up to its potential, leaving the reader wanting more depth and resolution. Despite its flaws, it's still an enjoyable read for fans of supernatural thrillers, but it doesn't quite reach the heights it aims for.

I really enjoyed One House Left. It deserves its comp to R.L. Stine, though this is better written...

I totally kid. I love R.L. Stine and appreciate all of his work and his contribution to the Horror space. I still read his books today and will continue to do so, well, forever. Anytime I see a new release compared to Stine's stories, I am going to check it out. It's the Publishers doing their work. They sold me. Sometimes it pays off, other times not so much. Happy to report it def paid off here.

This story follows 16-year old, Nate Campbell, who grew up on a cursed street, dubbed Murder Road, haunted by a vengeful spirit known only as The Hiding Boy. Every few years a different house on the street is plagued by some sort of violent tragedy. Nate and his family, trying to outrun the curse, move to a new town at the start of this story and that is where we pick up with Nate.

We follow him as he navigates being the new kid, while also trying to outrun his past. Will he be able to do so? Is it even possible to escape from the clutches of Murder Road?

I was hooked into this one from the start. It was giving me total Fear Street vibes with the narration style and the way the MC, Nate, presented his story. He was pulled into a clique of friends at his new school, led by the strong-willed, Max, who love learning about and exploring urban legends. Little did they know that Nate was actually living one.

Max seemed like such a cool girl to me. I loved her. Everything about the way she was described and the confidence with which she carried herself, she was def my fave in this one!

There's all sorts of mystery throughout this story as well. I had so many questions. I didn't really know what was going on half the time, purposefully on the author's part, and it kept me hella intrigued. People were acting strangely, Nate was receiving mysterious threatening messages, it wasn't quite clear the circumstances under which Nate's family left their old home; there was so much I wanted to know.

That's one way to keep you furiously flipping pages!

There was a huge twist around the 70%-point, that legit left my jaw on the floor. I couldn't believe what was happening and it totally changed my perspective on everything. I felt that was so well played by the author. As far as reveals go, it was definitely one I did NOT expect!

I also loved the escalation of this story. It was like a snowball rolling down hill. The pacing was very well done. There's a lot that I appreciated about this story, but I won't risk saying more because I don't want to spoil anything. Just know, I was impressed. Overall, I loved how the concept of Urban Legends was used by the author to tell this story. I found the characters so compelling, especially my girl, Max. As YA Horror novels go, this is at towards the top of the class!

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This is the 2nd-book I have read from Vincent Ralph and I'm definitely seeing a progression in his work.

I look forward to reading more from him!

One House Left took me completely by surprise. The story is broken up into parts and during the first part I thought I knew exactly the direction it was headed, and by part 2 I knew I was wrong.
We are following Nate and his family as they arrive at yet another new house in a new town. They move a lot, and the family seems to be falling apart. Nate goes to school and does his best not to be noticed, he doesn't want to make friends, doesn't want to be included, and it all is going to plan until he meets Max and her friends.. but mostly Max.
She and her friends get together and test out urban legends. One of my favorite parts of this book! Now this is the last thing Nate wants to be a part of. He was amid an urban legend of his own, one that is very well known, called the Hiding Boy. Which was super creepy. But Nate likes Max and decides that as much as it scares him he wants to be close to her. Which is a mistake on many levels.

There are so many twists and turns and I didn't see any of them coming! Every page held a new puzzle piece that I was trying and failed to put together until it was revealed. Once I started this I couldn't put it down, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

“Ready or not. Whatever you do. The Hiding Boy is coming for you.”

I have been exploring more YA horror lately, but I didn't want this one to end!

It's about loyalty, and friendship, and tricksters. There's almost always a trickster in a horror story and if it's done right, you will be shocked. Not fooled, maybe, but still...shocked. And this one was done right!

Nate is the new kid in town, trying very hard to be invisible, when he's spotted by Max. Max is the unofficial leader of the Hellhole Chasers, a trio that is on a mission to verify or disprove urban legends. Nate and his family are running from one particularly nasty string of murders connected to their former residence on Cherry Tree Lane,. famously known as Murder Road. Now the trio is a quartet and some local urban legends are coming true.

The book is divided into three parts, and the second part slips into paranormal happenings. While I'm not a fan of paranormal, this section had the most vivid and horrific descriptions. but it was necessary for the emotional denouement of part three. Well emotional for me, but maybe I just had something in my eye.

I recommend you read this book with the lights on. And remember..."he's coming for you."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy.

“We shattered her heart into a million unsalvageable pieces because we had no more ways to fight back.”

Although this line is near the end of One House Left, I don’t think it gives anything away. It just lets you know that Vincent Ralph’s new YA thriller is about more than spooky ghost stories. It’s about love and family and redemption, but it’s also, in typical Vincent Ralph fashion, spooky season perfect, and I loved every minute of it!

This one was very much not for me, I had trouble connecting to the story and the characters and found that I was quite confused while reading and honestly, kind of bored. I agree with the others that say this is nothing like RL Stine, so if that was a draw for you, you may want to reconsider. While this one was a miss for me, I will still definitely try another by this author.

One House Left was a creepy YA horror story. I really liked this book. This was the 2nd book that I’ve read by Vincent Ralph and I enjoy his writing.

I loved the 90s Fear Street vibes in this book. The story was mysterious and chilling. There were twists that I did not see coming. The ending was very suspenseful and scary.

I definitely recommend this book to YA horror lovers. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.

This was a good and creepy story that keeps you guessing about what is actually happening. This would probably really good as an Audio book with the creepiness of it. I enjoyed it but felt there was just something missing for me to say I loved it.

This was the perfect mix oh the spooky I grew up on and new levels of scary I love now as an adult. I’m so grateful I got this arc sent to me, it was the perfect mix of nostalgia and brilliant horror writing. This will definitely be an author I look out for.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203578713

Okay I will admit I was surprised by the turn in this book…I started out a little slow but as things started unfolding I sped through the remaining half. I definitely recommend this for anyone who loves horror and mystery combined.

This was a great and creepy book. I loved the twist at the end. I'm not a big horror reader, but really enjoyed this one!

Woah, One House Left was INTENSE. I had to pace myself with this one because I’m not a huge “supernatural” fan, especially when it comes to ghosts or demonic entities. It was well written, and the characters were so relatable, believable and inviting.

The first half of the book follows the quiet loner kid Nate, as we learn about his family and the demons they continue to run from that have been haunting them. Nate befriends a small group that likes to play with urban legends to find just how much truth is behind them.

The twist quite literally blindsided me, and I was astounded. There was nothing that could have prepared me for it. I highly recommend this one…but maybe read it during the day!

Nate and his family have been moving from house to house for years, always seeming to be on the run from something. Now Nate is living near Murder Road, the street in which the Hiding Boy lurks, waiting for his next victims.

Nate has never been one to make friends, but this time, it’s different. He meets a girl who changes his whole world. Nate is dragged into his new friends’ urban legend club. A club in which they test the accuracy of an urban legend.

Are urban legends real? Who is leaving threatening notes for Nate and why are all these supernatural happenings occuring?

When Nate and his group of friends, want to test out the legend of the Hiding Boy and Murder Road, Nate reluctantly agrees but not before begging his new friend to runaway with him.

What is Nate and his family hiding? Can this group survive the Hiding Boy?

𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: Spoiler Alert!
☁️☁️☁️

Definitely reminiscent of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike! This was a CHILLING YA supernatural HORROR! It is on par with Rachel Harrison’s “The Return”. This book kept me in-rapt attention! I started out with the e-book then switched to the audio. The narrator NAILED it! Spooky with a very nice TWISTY surprise at the end!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview One House Left.
This is kind of a YA book but has a really spooky theme going on.
A family is on the run and they are running for their lives from Murder Road. This area has a history of violence and death.
This story centers on a teenager with a brother and sister who manage their lives in constant anger and an absent mother and father.
So young Nate is on his own as his family moves again. He meets a group of kids who have their own private club that involves urban legends.
Soon he follows this rat pack and danger finds the way into his new home.
Will Nate survive or die trying.
3 stars

It’s one thing to read about urban legends. It’s something else entirely different for Nate Campbell and his family, who happen to be living one. Nate makes some friends at his new school, almost against his will. It’s an odd group who are obsessed with investigating urban legends. Loved the opening of the book, it hooked me right away. And then the introduction to Nate and his family, and only the vaguest suggestion of what he and his family are running from. And the mystery of why Nate’s family is on the run is only one of many mysteries that get thrown at the reader. And it isn’t until the last quarter or so of the book that everything comes together, that some answers are given. The pacing is a little slow, but I’m sure that was deliberate, slow, steady, creepy building up of tension. I really enjoyed Vincent Ralph’s style, especially the short chapters, which made it so easy for me to keep saying one more chapter, just one more…and of course end up reading way more than originally intended. While labeled as a YA book, I can readily say this can easily be enjoyed by adults as well. (4.5 stars, rounded up) I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review One House Left.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RMUZ5Q6YYIFR9/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I absolutely love Vincent Ralph. I’ve read all of his books and they just keep getting better. I loved the “weird” and “creepy” vibe in this one! Such a good read for spooky season coming up!!

I was a mega fan of Goosebumps growing up, and this book did give me some of the same vibes with a young group of friends who are either too brave, too naive, or maybe a bit of both. I liked the great urban legend of the cursed street that made the atmosphere spooky. I didn't find this one overly scary for anyone looking to add some Halloween reads to their list for the spooky season, but who doesn't want to dabble in the truly terrifying and gory.

The book started off strong for me. A family is running from something, and you can tell it is really affecting them. They never seem to stay in one place for very long, and you have to wonder exactly why? They never try to get close to anyone because, in the end, it seems they need to up and leave pretty quickly. Nate, who doesn't get close to anyone, finds himself getting close to a group of kids who like hunting for urban legends.
As our story continues following Nick and his group of friends we learn there is something more happening with Nick and what his real deal is.
The urban legends and ghost stories merge into Nick's life and it will be a fight to the death to stay alive. As we got towards the end I did feel a bit confused with how The Hiding Boy really came about and why no one connected the pieces. Though I do believe this is a story my middle school students will enjoy, so it is on my list to purchase.

One House Left by Vincent Ralph,, in the book we meet a family trying to escape an urban legend, theres youngest brother Nate, Sister Hazel, oldest brother Rowan and their despondent parents. Nate mourns the loss of the family he had before moving to Cherry Tree Lane. They’ve lived in different cities since moving from the street most call murder Road but practice doesn’t make perfect Nate is fearful of many things but in his new town in new school it is of making friends but when he meets Max, Taylor and Zeb it seems max is relentless when it comes to wanting to be friends with the loaner Nate. It’s only after the first lunch together Nate sees his folly but it may be too late. After reading swamp monster by Vincent Ralph I knew I wanted to read more by this author and I am so glad I did this was a great book with an unexpected ending and unlike swamp monster I found this ending to be more heartwarming but still packs a monstrous horrific punch. If you love monster horror with a believable origin story then you definitely need to read this book I think anyone who is a real fan of the genre will not be disappointed.#NetGalley, #SaintMartinsPress, #VincentRalph, #OneHouseLeft,

This was a great read, I can see teens devouring. “One House Left” has all the makings for the perfect YA horror, The urban legends was a great premise for the story and enough creepy components make this a book I think could be very popular. It also gave off some Stranger Things vibes the plot follows a dysfunctional family who are always on the move due to some ominous secret they are harboring that is causing them to just act super weird and suspect. The first two parts were really good but by part three it was a fast roller coaster until the end. This was a fun read I would recommend if you are looking for an adventurous paranormal thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook to preview.