Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker was a phenomenal short horror story!
A compelling and intriguing coming of age story that hooked me immediately.
Taut and tantalizing… Wow, this author has done a fabulous job. I loved every twist. I finished it in a few hours.

A ghostly haunting home makeover show haunt sweet home welcomes new employee Mara, as the new night shift production. The intro grabbed my attention- I mean, what reader wouldn’t love the idea of a ghost that wants to help organize your library?

Our main character feels same old story, new setting, as lost and unable to focus Mara accepts a job from relative Jeremy and falls into the world of is it true or is it all just a hoax. FYI, it’s mostly just a hoax. The novella not only picks on the set up and fake feeling of ghostly reality but that of makeover/house hunting type of shows as well. That reality tv is never reality and the story does it well. A small haunting reference but overall just a story of a lost 20 something trying to figure out next steps.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the review copy.

This book started out strong. I loved that it was about a ghost reality show and that transcripts of the show were included. It was a very quick, easy read as will. Mara's character was kind of a mess who agrees to work on her cousin's show, and that ended up playing into her story. I do wish Mara had more back story, other than telling about her Oma. I feel like her family was important to her, but that wasn't really explored.

I didn't find this scary at all and I would consider it horror-lite, if not cozy horror. It was also very predictable and it honestly felt a little YA to me. I did love the scene with the description of the library in one of the haunted homes. I thought this was a fun read, and it was a good kick-off to my spooky season reading.

I would recommend this if you like Rachel Harrison and Simone St. James or that type of horror.

Look for this one on September 3!

In Haunt Sweet Home, Sarah Pinsker has created a truly unique ghost story, using ghost hunting reality show gimmicks to bring together a story that reflects on identity. From the very first, when we meet Mara, we see how the past impacts Mara, both in her family and how she views others. But as the narrative develops, we see how much that perception is warped by her own ideas.
What I love best is how the strange events in the story build tension and as more happens, how Mara has to figure out her new coworker Jo. The reality show aspects will resonate with any reader who has watched any of these types of shows and I absolutely love the moments in the narrative where it skips to transcript style. Not only does that help with the strangeness and the tension but it kept me involved in the story. I also love how art reflects truth and identity in this story, showing us the truth of ourselves by what we create.
If you love an- original and unique ghost story, I highly recommend Haunt Sweet Home. Mara is an incredibly compelling character and the story is well written and engaging. It is truly different and creative.

Haunt Sweet Home was a quick read with a really interesting take on a haunting. I wasn’t sure what to expect once I started, but it turned out to be a decent read!

If you love “reality” tv like paranormal shows and HGTV this one’s for you! It’s a unique mix of the two and gave a fun insight into the reality of reality tv.
I found myself really feeling for the main character, Mara, in her struggles as an outsider in her family and issues finding a life path that fits.
The spooky moments were properly spooky and enjoyable, I wish there had been more! This was more of a cozy horror.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll leave it there but I really did enjoy this novella and would love to see more of the story!

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group - Tordotcom for the gifted ARC via NetGalley.
Publication date 9/3/24

Haunt Sweet Home was a satisfying novella. It had multiple styles-script, review, narrative, etc. and it all flowed without feeling awkward. My only complaint would be that it was too short. Instead of hearing that they did a lot more haunts, I’d have enjoyed going along with for the fun. I loved the honesty of the production crew and the humor.

I’ve mentioned SurrealEstate on the blog before. Well, its second season had an episode that was essentially a parody (or recreation) of a ghost hunting show. It was comedic but also told a heartfelt story about the fictional show’s host, a parallel to the interpersonal arc of Luke Roman. The concept was simple: manufactured haunting on a niche show that inevitably encounter a scenario outside of their control. So I’m more than familiar with a setup like that, which was why I was looking forward to Sarah Pinsker’s latest, a novella called Haunt Sweet Home.

It’s no secret: I like house stories (or stories involving houses). It’s why a show like SurrealEstate was so appealing, and Haunt Sweet Home fell into that same category. It combined home renovation and supposedly haunted properties into the titular show, while also shaping up into a narrative of self-discovery for the story’s main character, Mara Billings.

Mara started things but never committed; she often thought of herself as the black sheep of her family and was uncertain of her future and struggled with building connections with others. So when she gets the opportunity to work for her cousin’s niche show as a production assistant for the night crew, she’s hopeful it’ll be the thing to stick. It wasn’t an easy job. However, half the fun of the story for the reader, was watching the scenarios unfold/ the show being filmed as well as how Mara would handle being so far outside of her element, with a secondary cast also navigating a cut throat environment. Mara was sympathetic but also at times abrasive. However, I liked the nuance of Pinsker’s characterization of Mara. She almost haunted the narrative, even when she wasn’t fulfilling the role of a ghost. So when the inevitable confrontation happens, the proverbial shoe drop, when she could no longer run from herself, the emotional payoff was just chef’s kiss.

In Haunt Sweet Home the houses were secondary while much of the page space was devoted to a great ghost story and an exceptional character exploration. I highly recommend this one!

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (TorDotCom) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

This was a decent horror especially for being so short. The concept was solid and the follow through was great. It definitely felt like an episode of an old horror show. Overall this book was short but quite good.

Haunt Sweet Home was more cozy than creepy. I loved the concept of the story with the home show and fake hauntings and thought everything was well executed. I would have liked more length to the story because it was pretty short, but there’s something to be said for a quick read! This is a great book for someone who is interested in reading about the paranormal but doesn’t want to be scared.

While wandering aimlessly through her twenties, Mara is offered a job on her very successful cousin Jeremy's haunted home remodeling show Haunt Sweet Home. Mara is the youngest of her massive family and has always lowkey felt like a bit of an outcast. She doesn't quite JUMP at the chance but it seems inevitable that she eventually take the job and, eventually, she reaches out and accepts. She's going to be the new night PA. Anytime someone says "Hey you", its her. She has to grab things the rest of the crew needs, facilitate haunts (often times cramped in the dark, or scaling a roof) and literally anything else anyone needs and doesn't want to do.

While Mara is the one falsifying all of the haunts for the sake of the tv show, soon things start to happen that are less explainable....and often surround her odd coworker.

This was the exact perfect length. I think any longer and this book wouldn't be as excellent as it is. There was a portion of the book around 60% or so where the book was starting to feel samey and boring but then exactly when you start to feel that way everything ramps up and leads to an excellent ending.

Watching Mara grow and learn and find direction (even if that direction is her learning how to create ghostly fog) is nice. Who hasn't felt a bit lost and aimless in their twenties?

Thank you to TorDotCom and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I think this is a good one to go into with very little information and let it unfold. I thought it was going to be more standard horror and was pleasantly surprised when I found I was getting a beautiful story about someone trying to find their place. Loved. It and looking forward to more from the author. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy and I will be enthusiastically recommending.

Haunt Sweet Home has a fun premise but ultimately falls short of both satire and thought-provoking commentary. Instead, it lands somewhere in the middle, regularly poking fun at TV hauntings while attempting to offer the main character an arc that's closer to a cliche than it is unique or interesting. While I didn't love this story, the prose was solid and I wanted to know how it ended.

This novella might appeal to readers who enjoy the TV haunting genre or like stories about "finding yourself" in your early thirties.

Relatable and likeable characters in an untreatable situation, Haunt Sweet Home was like a cozy horror if there is such a thing. I think those that don’t enjoy horror but want something “spooky” for Halloween would enjoy it and horror fans who like ghosts stories and don’t mind a cutesy story to break up the normal horror would also like it. This was my first read from the author, and I did enjoy it. It’s quick, well written and overall it was fun. Many thanks to Tor for my eARC. Haunt Sweet Home will be published 9/3.

This was a fun use of paranormal horror elements as a coming of age story! If you're looking for a short, kitschy story that blends home renovation tv shows with ghost hunting, you'll enjoy this one!

This is a quiet and dreamy (and sometimes creepy) ghost story about self discovery, bad reality TV, and a woman who feels aimless hoping to find a purpose in an unexpected profession. I greatly enjoyed the portrayal of the ghost hunting/home renovation show and how we got to see some of that in transcripts, and I liked seeing Mara go from aimless wanderer in her own life to someone who is starting to find something she is truly good at, even if that is manipulating people to believe that their house is haunted for TV ratings. But I also liked the way that Pinsker explored the idea of a haunting and the ghostly mythos that she puts forward. It's not particularly scary, but it is the perfect horror lite read for people who want something for the upcoming Halloween season who may not like too much horror in their reading choices.

Sarah Pinsker’s Haunt Sweet Home offers a refreshing and imaginative twist on the ghost story genre, blending the eerie allure of hauntings with the backdrop of a pseudo ghost-hunting show. While I enjoyed the novella, it didn’t quite reach the same heights as some of her previous works, but it’s still a compelling read with plenty to appreciate.

The idea of a ghost-hunting show serving as the central setting provides a unique framework for exploring themes of the supernatural. The mix of reality TV tropes with genuine supernatural elements creates an interesting juxtaposition that keeps the reader invested.

One of the aspects I particularly enjoyed was the exploration of different haunted locations. Each setting has its own distinct character, and Pinsker’s descriptions bring these places to life with an atmospheric quality that enhances the story. However, given the novella’s brevity, I found myself wishing for more in-depth exploration of each location. Spending additional time at these sites would have allowed for a deeper immersion into their eerie histories and added to the overall sense of dread and wonder.

The protagonist, Mara, is shaped significantly by her large and complex family. Her relationships with her relatives play a crucial role in shaping who she is. Unfortunately, the novella’s short length means that these family dynamics are not as fully developed as one might hope. While I understand the constraints of a novella format, I would have liked to see more of Mara’s family background and how these relationships impact her character and the story's progression.

The semi-open ending of Haunt Sweet Home is another notable feature. It leaves the characters' futures open to interpretation, which adds an element of intrigue and allows readers to imagine what might come next for them.

I’m eagerly looking forward to Pinsker’s next work and am excited to see where her creative storytelling takes us next.

Twenty-something Mara is part of a large extended family, but she feels a bit like a black sheep. She's younger than most of her cousins, so they were always leaving her out or behind when she was little. Her grandmother, a skilled woodcarver, crafted personalized chairs for everyone in the family. Well, everyone except Mara. Oma's arthritis was too bad by the time Mara's turn for a chair came up.

On the cusp of getting ready to try community college one more time (her fourth attempt), Mara's cousin Jeremy presents a more enticing offer: Why doesn't Mara come work as production assistant for the reality TV show he hosts? Haunt Sweet Home is a kitschy combination of home renovation and haunted houses. Mara accepts Jeremy's invitation and discovers she will be serving as the PA for the night crew of Haunt Sweet Home. While the day crew is responsible for filming the home renovation story of the show, the night crew helps produce the supernatural plotlines. But over the course of the summer, Mara starts to encounter spooks and scares for which she is not responsible.

This novella-length book is a compelling story about a young woman who is haunting her own life. Mara is leaning into her identity as an outcast and unwittingly committing self-sabotage. Fortunately, her new job offers her an opportunity to open her eyes and appreciate her life more fully.

I love a good ghost story, and this one hit the spot without being scary. Things may have been eerie or spooky at times, but even cowardly readers like me can enjoy this funny, moving story.

This review will be posted to Goodreads on August 28, 2024 and to Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on August 29, 2024.

“Haunt sweet home” is a twist on the paranormal side of reality tv.

Mara is an outcast drifter. She has changed her mind on what career she wants and what she wants to study and taken many gap years from school, and quite frankly her family seem to have given up having an expectations or aspirations for her.

When her successful cousin offers her a position working as a crew member for his TV show, she has no other options but to say yes.

I enjoyed the plot surrounding the tv show, as the reader we get to see the inner workings and an insider view to production life on a reality tv series. We also get the insider scoop on how they may set up supposed “hauntings” and jump scares on a show that focuses on renovating a ‘haunted home’.

Mara’s job is to hide out and wait for cues to set off smoke machines or scream scares and make sure she is never seen. Mara dives into the job and you get the sense she is finding her footing and discovering something she finally excels at. She is nailing the job and getting lots of praise. That is until a coworker offers assistance and shines far brighter than Mara, stealing her spotlight and scaring the bejeezus out of the show hosts and guests.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, however I also failed to find the point of it. The ending felt a little underwhelming and I thought that all of Mara’s character growth was diminished by the end. This is a book that may be better shown on screen so you get the benefit of the jump scares without the expectation of including any depth to the plot. .

Narrated by Jennifer Blom; Jess Nahikian; Matt Godfrey; Robb Moreira

Thank you to Sarah Pinsker, Macmillan audio and Tor publishing for the EARC / ALC!

Publish date: September 3rd 2024.

Mara Billings is the resentful butt of a lot of family jokes. Where her relatives have found spouses, jobs, and even a bit of fame (in the case of her cousin Jeremy), Mara has dropped out of college more than once and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. In Haunt Sweet Home, Sarah Pinsker’s unusual coming-of-age story, Mara finally gets an opportunity to come into her own, albeit on the set of a cheap reality TV show about haunted houses.

Jeremy is the host of Haunt Sweet Home, a reality show featuring homeowners who purchase older fixer-uppers that are below market because they “might” be haunted. If they aren’t obviously haunted (they’re not), the night crew of the show does a naughty round of effects that make the owners think that something supernatural is going on. Jeremy offers Mara a job as a production assistant for the night crew at a low moment in her life and she surprises herself by taking the job. And it turns out that Mara has a talent for spooky effects that scare the willies out of the new residents.

I enjoyed reading a book that walked the boundary between definitely not haunted and actually there might be something here. After Mara helps haunt her first house—a Massachusetts farmhouse with an overgrown, century-old apple orchard and even a cemetery nearby—unexplainable things start to happen. I don’t want to give away too much of what happens because it was a lot of fun to see if my theories about what was going on were correct (they were) and I don’t want to ruin that for other readers. I hope it suffices to say that Mara’s delayed coming-of-age was deeply satisfying because Mara just can’t walk the same path as others. I think a lot of us can relate, even if our own emergence into adulthood probably didn’t involve ghostly libraries or the vengeful spirits of cows.

I love a novella, especially something creepy. And I loved Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker. I really love connecting to a character, it adds to a great storyline. I think Mara is a character we can all relate to, she's trying to figure out her future and her place in the world. And some unexpected things happen!

This supernatural horror isn't going to make you sleep with the lights on, but it's great if you're new to the genre and want something eerie.

Thank you to Tor Publishing group and NetGalley forthe opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book.