The Lake House is labeled as a psychological thriller, but honestly I would not label this as one. It is more of a domestic drama to be honest. The book did not really give me the thrill and shock factor I expect from a thriller.

This book was definitely thrilling, fast-paced and a bit creepy at times. I felt the tension between the different characters throughout the entire book, and you are kept guessing until about the very end as to who is pulling the strings in this formerly idyllic lake community that is hiding some very dark secrets

Laura moved to calm, peaceful Pine Lake after discovering her fiancé in bed with her best friend on their wedding day. She thought she would finally be able to get over the heartache by taking time away from everything and everyone she knew. But soon after moving in, her next door neighbor dies in a freak accident, and her new neighbors are familiar faces. Too familiar-her ex fiancée Tony and ex best friend Mary. Laura quickly finds out that both Tony and Mary suspect each other for the suspicious move next to Laura. As Laura tries to come to grips with everything happening in her new small town, different things start to happen to make her question many of the people around her. Someone in town has some interesting motives-and it’s up to Laura to figure out if it’s someone from her past or present.

I enjoyed this book but it was a bit predictable. It was a fast read though, and I’m happy to have the chance to review it!

3🌟
The Lake House is less thriller and more stalker/creepy vibes and men who can't take no for an answer really. While there's something to be said for the drama at the beginning of the book, and the romance that comes alongside all the peculiar stuff happening I wasn't really here for it much to be honest.

Quick easy read that had me hooked from the beginning and kept my attention until the very end. Creepy & mysterious lake house that gave me goosebumps.

Anyone looking for a fast read this is a great one! I would recommend this one for sure!!

At first glance, the story might seem like your typical small-town drama, but it's something quite different. Baxter masterfully crafts a narrative that is as gripping as it is unpredictable. From the very beginning, I found myself drawn into Laura's world, rooting for her as she navigates the murky waters of betrayal and deceit.

What sets "The Lake House" apart is its cast of characters, each more complex and intriguing than the last. Laura, with her resilience and determination, is a protagonist you feel an immediate kinship with, while the other characters' twisted motivations keep you guessing until the very end.

As the plot unfolds, Baxter keeps readers guessing with twists and turns that will leave you reeling. The pacing is expertly crafted, allowing for moments of quiet contemplation amidst the chaos, as Laura grapples with the truth lurking just beneath the surface.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of "The Lake House" is Baxter's ability to evoke such strong emotions in the reader. I found myself laughing, seething with anger, and holding my breath in suspense as the story unfolded. It's a testament to Baxter's skill as a storyteller that he can elicit such a visceral response from his audience.

Quick easy read that had me hooked from the get go and kept my attention until the very end. Great character development. Creepy & mysterious lake house.

Anyone looking for a fast read this is a great one! I would recommend this one for sure!!

This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last.

Thank you Netgalley & Inkubator for allowing me to read this ARC.

The Lake House was my first Theo Baxter book. I enjoyed it, and thought it was well written and interesting. I personally wouldn't call it a thriller - more of a really well done Soap Opera style read. There was certainly plenty of drama, a few little twists here and there but nothing wild. I liked the characters, the setting of the lakeside village and I thought it was a great idea for a book. Easy enough to follow, and fast paced enough to keep me turning the page and a realistic but satisfying ending.

If a gentle thriller is more your style then this is a fantastic read.

This was a new-to-me author that gave me a little thrill in reading it. I checked out his other books and see a few more I'm going to read.

This one revolves around Laura and her mental health in dealing with multiple problems. It's all set in a small town that's full of exes, wanna be's, weirdos, and gossips. Otherwise, a pretty good mix of characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

First, I want start by saying thank you to NetGalley, Theo Baxter, and Inkubator books for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC of The Lake House!

I was really excited for the book because the synopsis peaked my interest. The beginning first few chapters really drew me in, and I was excited to see where the story went. I love when a thriller completely grabs your attention and holds it from the very beginning, and I felt like, for the first few chapters, it was going to be a read that was going to be hard to put down. Once I got past the initial attention grabber, I felt like the book slowed down a lot and became more predictable and more of a domestic drama rather than a suspense/thriller. I was able to correctly guess the plot twists of the book, so I didn't get that shock factor that I love in a true thriller. The book was, overall, still entertaining, but I felt that it lacked suspense, lacked a surprise/shock factor at the end, and just kind of felt forced in many parts.

I originally wrote this review feeling ambivalent and then I saw “a killer psychological thriller” on the cover and got mad enough to add some more color to my sentiments. It wasn’t unpleasant to read, but I can’t say I was impressed. I kept waiting for something shocking to happen, like that the good guy turned out to have been the bad guy all along, or that the bad guy was the bad guy but he had somehow orchestrated the infidelity we learn about right at the beginning as part of his master plan. It felt like there were so many opportunities for devious little twists but none of them were taken. It was the worst combination of predictable and not very believable. I didn’t absolutely hate this book and I guess it can go on my list of mindless beach or plane reads but definitely at the bottom of that list and not one I feel any desire to read again.

This was my first time reading a book from Theo Baxter and WOW what a way to jump into a story. I was immediately drawn in by the intensity of the beginning and couldn't put this down. One of my favorite things about a thriller is if it can capture my attention from the beginning, so that was a huge plus when I started reading this one.

A bit more than halfway through the book I realized while this was definitely thrilling in a sense, it was a bit more of domestic drama vs a full on thriller. This didn't take too much away from the book, as I still loved reading it but in terms of categorizing it I felt that was more of match.

Overall this was a really fun read and I enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Lake House by Theo Baxter due to be published April 28, 2024.
Laura was devastated when she caught her fiancé, Tony, and best friend/maid of honor, Mary, together on her wedding day. She moved away from everything to a quiet setting – Pine Lake. It was quiet and peaceful until her new neighbors moved in – Tony and Mary! Talk about uncomfortable! There must be an ulterior motive. Why did they move there? To stalk Laura or worse?
I had previously read Not My Mother and loved it, so I was delighted to get The Lake House! I’m not sure this was a psychological thriller – more like a domestic thriller, but it kept me interested and was a fast read. The town of Pine Lake truly gave off “Stepford Wives” vibes – no way would I live there with all the creepy people and their interference in everyone’s lives.
All in all, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it!
#NetGalley #TheoBaxter #InkubatorBooks #TheLakeHouse

Firstly I’d like to thank NetGalley for letting me read “The Lake House” early!

But unfortunately I got 40% into the book and had to stop reading, it was mainly just repeating itself and nothing was really happening!

I still love the concept of this book and pine lake sounds like a dream to live in!

This kicks off straight in the deep end when Laura walks in the bridal suite hours before her wedding to find Mary her best friend and maid of honour, and her fiance Tony doing things they most definitely shouldn’t be doing on the bed!

Fast forward a few years and Laura moves to Pine Lake to escape the city, but imagine fleeing your ex partner and best friend for them to move in next door to you! There are some questionable characters living in Pine Lake who Laura is trying to work out, however she builds a trusty friendship with the ‘town weirdo’ Graham who has many years experience in Pine Lake and its dramas and he delves in an array of strange hobbies.

I wouldn’t class this as gripping or psychological, it’s more a domestic thriller really, but the writing is good and it kept me reading. Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator books and the author for my arc copy.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this ARC.

This hooked me in from the beginning and didn't stop. I don't know if I would say this is a thriller but it's definitely a gripping, page turner! I loved the characters and the writing made it easy to picture Pine Lake as a utopia but with a mystery lurking around each corner. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read!

The book description caught my attention and the plot seemed interesting. I personally wouldn’t call it a gripping psychological thriller. It was more of a domestic thriller with lots of drama.

I figured out the plot twists when I was 50% through the book. It was a decent and entertaining read, but lacked suspense and there was no big reveal at the end, which was a bit disappointing.

With that being said, it was a short and fast-paced book which can be read in one sitting. If you like a quick read without much character building and a hint of suspense, then this book might be for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and Theo Baxter for this read!

First, thank you to Net Galley, Theo Baxter, and Inkubator books for allowing me to read the ARC of “The Lake House.”

This book was slow for me for about 3/4 of the way through. There was not a lot of character building for me or world building. While it was slow and not fully developing of different aspects, it is a quick read.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. However, I don’t think it will be on my recommend list for others.

I didn't love this I think due to the writing style. The story was totally unbelievable and the characters not well drawn out. Sorry not for me.

This review is very hard for me to write . Once again I have been gaslit by a beautiful cover with a house in the woods all the way to the very last page.

I felt the writing was just ok, the characters were so unstable to the point I feel the author forgot what they wrote two pages ago.
The main character Laura was always contradicting what the author wrote .
The book was full of very unlikeable characters and the plot , lets talk about the plot , ... I mean what plot??

I feel terrible sharing my review , but I need to be honest on how this book made me feel. It was rushed and was just mediocre and lacked suspense and thrill .

I am not sure if I would read this author again, too bad because the synopsis and the cover had me with all hands on deck eager to dive in , only to be swept ashore and left totally bored.

Respectfully Another Read by Angie