We are in such a good era for horror that allows us to delight in the suffering of out of touch tech billionaires. Expertly placed and plotted, mercilessly lampooning the excesses of Silicon Valley, and subverting all our expectations with that ending.

The comp titles call this a whodunit meets Black Mirror and, as is so often the case, I think this does this book a disservice. Yes, there is a science-fiction thriller element to this book but to go in with the expectations that a comp title sets it up for failure. Unfortunate, because this worked for me in a way that a book hasn't worked in a hot minute.

I loved the tension. I loved the way the tech mentioned feels like it's a half step to the left of what we already have. I think the flashback chapters were perfectly interspaced into the rest of the narrative, it wasn't so much that I think you could really call this a fully nonlinear storyline, but it helped keep things interesting. Kristen isn't going to be a character everyone likes, but I always like an MC who's kind of a bitch and hates everyone near her with the exception of like two people.

My only real complaint is that I don't think the ending fully stuck the dismount. I enjoyed it, but it felt like it was a half step away from where I really wanted it to end. But this was still really solid and I can't believe it took me so long to get to. It's definitely a read that if it doens't work for you in the first chapter or two it probably just isn't going to work at all but I skipped my planning period to finish this book so obviously I was obsessed.

I unfortunately DNF's this book AT 20%. At this time, I could not get into the voice of the book and some of the themes were laid on too think. I really loved the idea of the story and I think I will have to try this one again at some point because it truly is intriguing.

This book is twisty and mysterious and I wasn't prepared for any of the twists. I wish it was long just so the tension building on the island could continue and we could have more a build-up to the conclusion. This book was fabulous!

Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby just didn't work for me. The premise seemed promising, with a blend of sci-fi and dystopian themes that usually pique my interest, but the execution fell flat. The plot felt disjointed, and the pacing was inconsistent, which made it hard to stay engaged. I wanted more depth in the world-building, yet the story seemed bogged down by details that didn’t add much to the overall experience.

I suspect some reviews of GLASS HOUSES may take issue with some of the wild decisions made by its fictional Canadian tech bros. To me, the terrifying thing is my suspicion that those with access to an extraordinarily disproportionate amount of resources, and those who empower and enable them, are capable of the actions in GLASS HOUSES and more. Kristen Howard continues to provide emotional labor and more for her boss and other male survivors of their plane crash on a bizarre island with no other visible occupants and the titular glass house, which seems actively hostile towards Kristen. Long after the particulars of the twists of this satisfyingly kinked thriller have faded, the memory of righteous rage will linger.

When I went into this book, I was really intrigued by the premise. A plane crash. The survivors find what sounds like a smart house.

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the characters or the writing.

I was left completely confused as to what was going on. This seemed to be more about the backstories than what the synopsis promised.

There was really very little about the island, the plane crash, or the glass house.

*Thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for the early eGalley.*

I didn’t get to read Glass Houses before the publish date, but now that I have read it, I gave it 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it. Dark and smothering, but in a good writing style.

I thoroughly enjoyed Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby. The author has written a great techno-thriller based on the near future capabilities and systems that we all are currently enmeshed in. She's obviously done her research on what direction the world and future is leaning if we keep on this track with the "startup bro" mindset. Great characters and action.

Fast paced techno AI thriller that kept me guessing! I’ve been on an AI horror kick lately, and this is one of the best ones I’ve read in the genre. It would make a great Netflix series!

Thanks for the opportunity to read. I’ve been recommending this book to friends!

I am loving AI horror lately because it is so tangible, and Glass Houses is no exception. This book was a wild ride and it unlocked a whole new slew of fears.

This book had a really intriguing premise, following a group of tech coworkers stranded after a private plane crash. When they came upon the glass house, I was fully invested in finding out the mystery of the house and whether the characters would survive. I have to say I was way LESS interested in all of the flashback chapters, where we found out more about the business these characters were involved in and all of their professional and personal relationships. I kept wanting the book to get back to the survival chapters in present-day, but the flashback chapters really took over the majority of the story. Then when we finally get to the action in present-day.... wow. I was not prepared for the sharp left turn and while I can respect a book trying to do something different... this one was just not it for me. I left with very little that I can say I enjoyed about the book, other than the very beginning. I guess I would recommend it to readers very open to strange, sci-fi type twists and are interested in reading a LOT about this fictional company's futuristic invention and (morally gray/offensive) business practices. I wouldn't be against trying this author again in the future, but I think I'll have to do a little more research into the plot and where the story goes before I dive in!

I think the 3.5 Goodreads rating is fair.

This futuristic suspense story felt like a less interesting mash-up of several Ruth Ware novels (the tech company retreat in One by One crossed with the survival aspects of One Perfect Couple plus the tech stuff in Zero Day).

The villain was obvious. The main character was odd. I don't think the flashbacks worked well, as I found the present segments more interesting. And the ending was weird to me.

I think there are better futuristic thrillers out there!

so so excited for this whodunit and it came through! Such a good satire thriller with a sprinkling of humor for those who like White Lotus

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.
I wasn't sure what to make of this one. I found it enjoyable and intriguing in the beginning, but as I got closer to the conclusion and not much had really happened (aside from a few missing/dead employees), I was left more confused than anything else. While I enjoyed the dual-timeline, I also felt that there was too much crammed into a relatively short novel where most of it didn't have a super strong impact on the story and its outcome. There is a good chance I missed something here and definitely was not able to fully connect the dots, so it could still be worth giving it a try for other readers. 3 stars: I enjoyed it, but was left unfulfilled and with questions. Maybe that is the point?

This book was deeply unsettling in the age of AI.

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, I can't decide what I loved more: the book itself or Kristen's character. Both were equally amazing.

This book has made me want to read more science-fiction books like this one. It was such a fun journey, and the tech elements were fascinating. I feel smarter after reading it. Haha. But seriously, the concepts in this book are incredible.

The story centers around a plane with no pilot that should fly itself. Instead, the pilotless plane crashes and a group of coworkers from a tech startup crash-land on an island. They see nothing around them until they find a black, all-glass house, only problem is is that it has no doors. They need to get inside because the house contains everything they need to survive. But why did they crash here in the first place?

As things go wrong, the stranded group starts to turn on each other, unsure of who to trust. Was the crash an accident or a deliberate plan?

The narrative unfolds in dual timelines: the present and the past. The chapters set in the past always provide hints relevant to the present.

I can't wait to read more from this author. Great read.

This one was a quick suspenseful sci-fi thriller. While the thriller elements were very much there, I would have loved delving deeper into the tech and sci-fi elements.

I expected tis book to have a Glass Onion feel to it. A group of individuals gets trapped on a tropical island and chaos ensures. The main character, Kristen Mara, wasn't a likeable, evil character. You know the kind you like to hate? I was intrigued in the first half of the book but then the plot began to lack development. I grew bored. I think this novel would've worked better as a novella. It's dystopian in nature and I was expecting a traditional suspense/thriller with an Elon Musk twist.

This was such an interesting read and so well written. It was story that I had not read before and I really enjoyed it.