Thank you to NetGalley for an E-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book about death, love, grief, secrets, and family. It deals with what is left behind after someone dies and what happens when those who are left behind get stuck.

The story is touching, kind, but something was missing. Some of the character actions seem completely unprompted, seem like something no one else in that situation would do. I'm also very tired of the "I have a terrible secret that I can't tell anyone even if it ruins every relationship around me" trope.

I did like the ending. I felt like it was well done and handled with care. I can't put my finger on what exactly was missing, but there was just some aspect of the novel that felt incomplete or superficial.

This is a beautiful exploration of grief and love set in a fantasy world. Synclaire's writing is warm and hopeful, and I adored the strange and wonderful cast of characters in this novel. A perfect "found family" book, this story is perfect for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea.

This was my first book from the publishing company bindery. So as a debut novel I thought it was a well written one, of course there would be better flow but I'm confident that the author will find their stride. This was a cozy fantasy that had some emotional moments throughout.

House of Frank follows a MC who cannot let go of the death of her sister and has been requested to bury her ashes, which the book opens with her attempting to do. She cannot let go at first and so stays as the aforementioned house while she grows to accept her grief and meets the people who live at the house. A main subplot involves saving the house and the magic of falling stars. It is a nice arc of grief, and the subplot holds up well too, but I never really bought into the characters. People compare this to TJ Klune which makes sense with the grieving and quirky house vibes, but everyone felt flatter. There was a side romance that just felt included to be incldued. However, it is a sweet and light read for anyone who likes the description and a nice treatment of grief especially for a sibling.

This book was such a cozy read! It was the perfect read for the fall season. I would definitely recommend this book to people who want a story about grief and letting go. All the characters in this story added to Saika’s process. Additionally , all of them were also dealing with their own grief. It was beautiful to read how having an understanding and supportive community around through a loss can aid in healing. Finally, the magical arboretum is such a beautiful concept, and a reminder of how even after death, we can still connect with nature and be fruitful.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

I really wanted to like "House of Frank", the writing style was beautiful and the world building as well as the characters with their secrets were interesting. I liked the idea of planting the ashes of a loved one so that a tree might grow out of it.

For the majority of the book, I was wondering when it would really get started though: yet neither the world building nor the characters were ever truly explained. The short revelations as to their losses made sense but I did not form attachments.

When is this set? How does their world work? What magical beasts are there? What happened to Beebee?

Magic was universally accepted in a Diana Wynne Jones style but it left me with too many questions. It's an interesting book but could've dealt with grief more. It also felt underexplored.

Overall I was disappointed because I had wanted more. I love found family tropes but I didn't not really understand how our main protagonist became such a vital part of the house after...ten minutes. The book had a bit of the vibe of the game "Spiritfarer" which I loved deeply. Maybe that's why I am disappointed that this book couldn't give me what the game did?

Anyhow. Interesting. Sweet and queer.

Compared to other recent reads, I got through this quickly and always wanted to pick it back up. I really liked the characters, but even more than that, I was fascinated by the different reactions to loss and death the characters had. The cast of characters, the explorations of grief, the immersive world. Wonderful book that's perfect for autumn!

charming, cozy, diverse, and original. this was a very enjoyable and fresh read— the book equivalent of sitting on a backyard swing in the early morning with a warm tea. i also cannot stress just how good of a story this would be for studio ghibli to adapt: rich, magical, wistful, bittersweet. bottom line: i can’t conceive how someone could not find something in this book to connect to. it’s great if you’re already a fantasy fan, and a wonderful bridge book if you’re new to it.

Set at a magical abortorium called Ash Gardens, where magical beings go to lay their loved one's ashes to rest, this story promised cozy fantasy vibes and found family goodness, featuring a healthy dose of cast diversity, wide and welcomed queer representation, and central themes of loss and grief, handled in a uniquely fantastical way.

On paper, this concept sounded very appealing to me, and it didn’t hurt that the early feedback from reviewers and bookish influencers was predominantly enthusiastic and glowing in nature. Unfortunately, that’s about where my goodwill towards this debut fantasy tale stops short.

First and foremost, I struggled to get into the narrative style. It was first-person but with intermittent bouts of second-person focus, which I found beyond jarring. This is definitely a personal preference issue, but it had such a negative impact on the story's overall flow and readability for me, that I would be remiss not to mention it.

I also struggled quite a bit with caring for the wide ensemble cast of characters, many of whom came across as fairly obtuse and abrasive, especially protagonist witch Saika and her love interest Oli, whose interactions left me uncomfortable and confused, more often than not. In fact, most interactions in this story felt like meanness feigning as banter, and that certainly didn’t work for me—or for the cozy fantasy and found family vibes the story was ultimately reaching for.

Unfortunately, I felt much of what transpired within the story was incongruous in its telling. For instance, we were to believe all these characters cared a great deal about one another, and the place they lived and worked, but their constant antagonistic actions—or, more often than not, their notable inactions—left me feeling like they were merely disinterested strangers residing in one place, with little actual care or knowledge of one other or their needs/wants. This was proven time and again, where beastly but kind proprietor Frank’s health was concerned, or where the intuitive but mostly ignored ghost Phil came into play, guiding Saika (to save the place) where he could have guided ANYONE much earlier on; that’s not to mention everything that occurred regarding the dragon or nonsensical death dealings… none of which added up for me in the specifics as the story played out.

Lastly, for a story that dealt heavily in feelings of loss and grief, I was left practically unmoved. This was quite shocking for me to experience (or, I guess, not experience), as someone who cries at the drop of a hat, feels deeply, and gets called too sensitive, too often; and as someone who feels loss acutely and profoundly, for periods much longer than society would deem “normal” or “acceptable” in most cases. So, the fact I didn’t feel much of anything for these characters, let alone shed any tears over their experiences of grief and heartache, tells me something did not compute (for me personally) in the telling of this story, and that is an absolute shame, considering how deeply other’s seem to have been moved by this story.

To throw a little positivity at it on my way out the door, I really did love the story concept, the representation within, the unique magic system at play, and the truly apt and stunning cover art. With any luck, I’m hoping this was a one-off disconnect between me and a forthcoming publishing from Bindery Books, because I’m generally excited by the other stories on offer and I still find myself absolutely fascinated by the community powered premise behind this innovative company and the bookish people involved.


**A special thanks to Bindery Books (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into reading House of Frank but I was so delighted to have read this cosy fantasy.

House of frank was so heartfelt and beautiful and I loved every moment. It would be perfect for readers who enjoyed books like house on the cerulean sea

So, this book owes me for damages because my eye faucets need a repair, they're very leaky. Not sure I want Oli to take this job either.

Anyway, bad jokes and burning eyes aside, this book absolutely punched me in the heart. Quite unfair how it went about it too, to be honest. On the one hand, I appreciate the idea that everyone was, is or will grieve someone in their lives. Also love the idea of going on to become trees. Let it be known now, via book review, that I'd love to go on as a tree if it's not too much trouble. Thank you in advance.

On the other hand, I'm not sure it was always a realistic portrait, speaking from experience of dealing with my own grief and watching others handle theirs. Here most of the characters spend the majority of time in the heightened state of grief. It might be argued that the house and services lend themselves to it, but again, it lacked variety. It didn't show us the whole experience of grief, especially the beautiful parts. I'm not sure I buy that people so unresolved in their feelings would *all* do well surrounding themselves by grief either.

Moving on, I could have also done without the romance, to be honest. That way we could have focused much needed attention on the found family aspect with the relatively big cast of characters instead of going about it in an almost episodic way, where everyone told us about the ones they lost and then went about their lives. This read a bit like Under the Whispering Door minus the discernible character growth and likeable love interest. Because Oli was just insufferable 90% of the time. Yes, congrats on having a hard life, like, say, pretty much everyone else at the house. Let us now constantly antagonize someone who just showed up completely exhausted at your door with ashes to bury and did absolutely nothing to offend you. Great plan. No notes. I don't understand why books so heavily focused on grief have this need to throw romantic love at the main characters like that's a fix all.

But hey, maybe that's me being a grump. It's been known to happen once or twice. I liked the plot well enough. It is predictable in its context, climax and falling action, but I'm not expecting plot twists here. The world was inventive enough to make up for it. And I do appreciate some of the nuggets of wisdom that to this day I (and I'm sure many people) still need to hear.

Last, but certainly not least, props to narrator Imani Jade Powers, who truly brought the characters to life and enhanced the emotional side of this book. She also made the transitions from first to second POV a lot less jarring than they would have been had I read it only with my eyeballs.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kay Sinclaire and Bindery Books for the chance to read and review this book.

This is a cozy fantasy about grief reminiscent of Under the Whispering Door, which I loved. I did not find the characters particularly relatable, especially Saika and Oli. Frank was endearing and the house and magical garden were pretty enchanting. I thought the switch from first to second person narration was a bit jarring. Second person is very difficult to pull off in my opinion. I felt like this had a lot of potential, but for me it did not fully live up to it.

House of Frank is a magical and cosy (but gut wrenching) fantasy about a witch Saika who's life has led to Ash Gardens and its residents. Frank and his late wife created this place to plant the ashes of loved ones and bring life in their arboretum. Together with the house's and arboretum's caretakers Saika explores her grief, makes friends, deals with her lost magic, opens up to others and tries to fix everything.

my heart was ripped in million pieces and it was so worth it ❤️ this rollercoaster of a book was filled with happy and sad memories, with tragedies and joyful gatherings. I can tell you that I heard the music through the pages and the warmth of the hugs. Kay Sinclaire did an amazing job of writing all the complex emotions and bringing everyone closer in the process. we all have lost someone close to us during our lives and will lose even more. and this book gave the reassurance that everything will be alright, if you are ready to feel all the uncomfortable emotions and let in all the positivity. share your moments with others and hear them too!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me with the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*House of Frank* by Kay Synclaire is a gripping, character-driven drama that weaves a tale of family, power, and betrayal. Set in a world of high society and complex relationships, the story follows the Frank family as they navigate their entangled lives, filled with secrets and hidden agendas. Synclaire’s writing is sharp and evocative, creating a rich, immersive atmosphere that pulls readers into the emotional turmoil of each character. The intricate plotting and unexpected twists keep the reader engaged, though some moments may feel predictable. Overall, *House of Frank* is a compelling exploration of family dynamics and personal ambition.

What a cozy surprise of a story. I didn't know much going in and opened it up on a plane ride and almost finished in one sitting. The different types of witches were my favorite part to think about.

Where do I start? Oh yes, thank you, NetGalley and Bindery Books, for allowing me to read an e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

So, House of Frank… First, if a book makes me cry that much it will automatically be a five-star read. I cried because it was sad, I cried because it was beautiful, and I cried because of too many emotions at the same time. It was hard for me to get into it because I had so many things to do with uni, but oh my gosh I have read 70% of the book in one sitting bawling my eyes out on my couch.

I don’t think I didn’t love any of what was in the book. The writing is so beautiful, the author knows how to write grief, family, loss, found family, emotions, touching characters, great characters, and magic system,... Everything was perfect from the beginning to the end, even the pacing. This is a character-driven story, but there’s still a plot, so a cozy fantasy with something happening. Just so great.

Saika is such a good main character, she grows during the whole story, learns to open herself to others, learns to live without her sister, learns to find another family who accepts her for herself and learns to help herself too, not just the others. And honestly, all the characters are good characters, they all lost someone and learned, or are still learning, to live without them.

This is what the story is about: loss, grief, recovery, and finding new meaning in life. I know that I will buy a physical copy to annotate it and just read it again and again when I’m feeling down.

This one promised cozy found family, but fell flat for me. I was excited because I saw one reviewer compare it to TJ Klune, but he does it all so much better. The characters here felt snarky in uncaring ways, unlike Klune's lovable snark. As a debut author, perhaps Sinclaire will grow into character development.
The world-building was interesting and the grief was handled well. Overall, however, it just didn't stick with me.

I love a found family! And the cozy, whimsical, and magical vibes of this book are just perfect. A reminder that grief isn't the end of the world, even if it feels like it, this book felt like a hug or a warm blanket on a cold day. I love a cozy read and we need so many more of them in the world.

Hmm. I wanted to like this more than I did. It had a great setting and I loved the magic system. But the narration (first person while referring to the reader in second person as if you were the MC's deceased sister) was very offputting and kind of hard to read. The characters all also felt a little...mean...for what was supposed to be a cozy story about found family and grief.

I did relate to Saika a lot in her grief and felt her desperation to be connected to her lost loved one. I think this was a good job for a debut novel, I'd consider revisiting the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5⭐ rounded to 5⭐

A warm and hopeful story of a lonely witch consumed by grief who discovers a whimsical cast of characters in a magical arboretum—and the healing power of found family.

I absolutely loved this book and feel like it will be one that I will be thinking about for a long time. I do wish however, that the characters' backstories were introduced earlier on in the book instead of getting some of them at the 70%/80% part because I wanted to be invested in the characters' from the beginning and for some of them, that didn't happen until the book was nearly over. It was obvious that they were all there because their grief united them in some way but I wanted to know why from an earlier point, so then I could have been connected and related to the characters so then I would like them more. It made it hard to feel anything truly for them because I felt like I didn't know them enough until I got their backstories. I loved so many of the characters and the fact that this has found family in it, made it a guarantee that I would love this book. Due to how much I loved the characters, I really underestimated at the start how much this book would make me cry and I could relate to all of the characters' journey with grief in some way, which is why I connected with this book so much.

I found the plot to be so interesting. I absolutely loved how it explored grief and especially how the grief of each character was different to one another - I thought that was done so beautifully and it was really refreshing to see that grief can present differently for everybody. I would love to read more books like this that have the ability to make such a heavy topic feel so whimsical and beautiful, with the ability to make so many people feel seen. The way that the world was described made feel like I was in a Studio Ghibli movie and I was absolutely obsessed because it was so vivid, which not only made me more immersed in the book but it also made the book come to life in my mind. I loved how turbulent this world was at times because it really created a sense of urgency at how dire the situation was at certain points of the story, which really helped to push the narrative forward. The atmosphere of not only the world changing but also the characters on a daily basis, was done incredibly. It had the most stunning imagery and I found the whole premise of the magical arboretum to be so symbolic of saying that even though there's death, there is something that can be reborn out of that (like loved ones planting their passed loved ones' ashes, which then grows into a beautiful tree that celebrates their life long after their death).

I adored the writing style and I will absolutely be checking out any future books that Kay writes because I loved this one so much. I knew this book would make me cry but I had no idea how much it would make me cry.

If it wasn't because of the ending and feeling like it was in a rush to tie everything up, I definitely would have rated this 5⭐. I feel like it could have been dragged out a little more, just so it made it more fleshed out. I would definitely recommend this book but I would suggest checking out trigger warnings first as it does cover some quite heavy topics.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: grief, suicide ideation, mental illness, derogatory language, alcohol use, cursing, vomiting, injury detail, terminal illness, transphobia, child death, abandonment, animal death/cruelty, suicide attempt; mentions death, suicide, sexual assault ⚠️