Two families come together as one and each character within the family has something to offer. This book will send you through various emotions, from the happiness of romance to the fear of horror with much more in-between.

Finished Reading

Pre-Read notes

I'm 30 pages in and so far it's excellent. The premiise is completely captivating to me, because I'm drawn to stories about sister's and big family drama as the backdrop for a really scary narrative. I love this formula and predict with hope, I will find that here!


Final Review

She nodded toward the door and took a deep breath. “Okay. She was involved in our mā’s death. I’m sure of it.” p21

Review summary and recommendations

Reading Notes

Seven things I loved:

1. But now Rennie was back, broke, sitting in her childhood bedroom with plans to pawn her late parents ’ valuables. A bit pathetic. She took a deep breath and drank. p24 This is right at the beginning, and this fmc is a handful!

2. Whatever it took, she would get her childhood home back. There was no way Mā had given the house willingly to Elaine, that scheming vulture. p45 I love when narrators get down in the muck with the characters. It always lives up the narrative.

3. I really love a good old-fashioned haunted family home for a setting, characters haunted by spirits and memories. I adore the descriptions of the architecture!)

4. I love the Chinese symbols scattered throughout the book. Like these tiny pearls that I can see but not touch!

5. The theme of the history of Chinese immigrants in the US seriously enriches this story. It's both fascinating and eerie in turns, depending on which era I'm reading about.

6. The plot is so twisty and unpredictable!

7. She was surrounded by so much blue on all sides. The sand was softer than silk. The sun touched everything: the wine , their shoulders, the water. Still, she felt so empty inside. She thought of what it would be like to float into the ocean; to sink into it and dissolve like seafoam. She closed her eyes. Light filtered through her eyelids and she saw only a muted shade of red. p185 Beautiful descriptions of emotion in this book.


Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This story has a huge cast. The number of named characters is bewildering large. Some readers handle that better than others. Since I rely heavily on my ears to consume stories, I have trouble with large casts.

Rating: 🏰🏰🏰🏰 /5 / huge old creepy haunted mansions
yes
Finished: Feb 28 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🏚 scary houses
👤 psychological horror
👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏾 sibling rivalry
🪢 family drama and mind games

Thank you to the author Chtistina Li, publishers Avid Reader Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE MANOR OF DREAMS. All views are mine.
---------------

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Creepy, romantic, and suspenseful.

The characters were intriguing, and I loved how the author delved deep into their backstories, revealing how they ended up in their current predicaments. The plot was filled with eerie moments and suspenseful twists, as the house itself seemed to be the main character, driving the story forward.

The book was well written with a wealth of details and descriptions that kept me engaged and captivated from beginning to end. The ending was jaw-dropping—It never even occurred to me.

This review is entirely voluntary, and all opinions expressed reflect my personal views.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be completely honest, I went into this book half-blind. I read the synopsis of the book, thought it sounded really good, and started reading. Nothing about the synopsis gave me horror vibes; it honestly made it sound like a thriller. Later on, I'd come to discover that the synopsis doesn't do the book justice. It wasn't until after I started reading that I found out, after a little quick and dirty research, that The Manor of Dreams is one of the most highly anticipated 2025 horror novels set to be published this year, at least according to Goodreads articles written by the Goodreads team themselves. After finishing the ARC, I can 100% say I can see that happening. I'm not sure I would go as far as to say that BookTok/Bookstagram/bookish socials will blow this book up (to be completely blunt, we need to do a better job at elevating BIPOC authors but that's a story for another day), but I hope it gets the recognition it deserves. This is also Christina Li's adult debut after writing a handful of middle-grade and YA novels I think she did a stellar job.

After the death of Chinese actress Vivian Yin, her two daughters, Lucille and Renata, along with Lucille's daughter, Madeline, arrive to Yin Manor for the reading of her will. Unexpectedly, Elaine Deng, daughter of Vivian's former gardener and nanny, and her daughter Nora, also show up to the hearing. When it's revealed by Vivian's lawyer that she made a last-minute change to the will that leaves Elaine and Nora the sprawling but decrepit estate instead of her daughters, a showdown happens between the two families as they fight over who should have ownership of the house. The story mainly alternates among the four women's POVS; Lucille, Renata, Madeline, and Nora as they take over Yin Manor and try to sort everything out over the course of about a week: cleaning the house, sorting through Vivian's belongings, Lucille trying to build a case to get the house back in her ownership, and most importantly, don't go into the backyard and try to take care of the garden.

The writing quickly sucked me into the story. I thought the alternating POVs were cool to read as we get to see how each woman handles Vivian's death. I found myself not being able to stop reading and I kept going because I didn't want to stop. Eventually, Vivian's POV shows up as we get a glimpse of her life as a rising Chinese actress and her personal life raising her family. I found hers to be the most interesting as we get to see why the house is the way it is now and everything that led up to her death. Vivian's POV gave it the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes I expected from a Hollywood starlet of a character. Although her life wasn't as crazy compared to Evelyn Hugo's per se, I can understand a lot of her parenting decisions and why she did what she did to protect her daughters and look out for them growing up. I support women's rights, but I also support women's wrongs.

My assumption on The Manor of Dreams being a thriller was quickly proven wrong when the horror aspect came into the story. I'm honestly not sure why I wasn't as creeped out over all of the elements of the story that made it a horror novel; maybe it's because I'm so desensitized to body horror and blood and gore as a pharmacist who went on clinical rotations in the ER and ICU during school? While I was admittedly unsettled, I never had that feeling of "I need to sleep with the lights on and one eye open" vibe from the story. I also predicted what was happening to the house a while before it was revealed but I know that's just me being able to see it coming from a mile away after reading enough thrillers. None of this affected my enjoyment of the story overall, but I can see how someone who's never read a thriller or a horror novel before could easily get creeped out over everything happening.

Overall, I loved reading this horror/thriller novel by a fresh new voice in the genre! I can't wait to see what Christina Li has in store next.

TW: Domestic Abuse

This work is told from two timelines: one set in the 1970s - 1990s and one set in modern times. I found the historic timeline more compelling than the modern one, but they were both decently written. I did like the modern one more at the end as the two timelines finally merged together and complemented each other better for the resolution. I think part of why I preferred the historical timeline was that I found the characters (and romances) in that timeline more compelling, creating a stronger experience. The pacing was also much more consistent in the historical timeline, whereas the modern timeline moved slowly without much happening.

Some themes of this work include jealousy, love (familial, romantic, and toxic), and how trauma and guilt can haunt you and future generations in unforeseen ways (I loved the quote "We inherit their history."). It also includes themes surrounding identity, especially cultural identity. I'm not sure that I'd call this a work of horror despite some of the graphic imagery, but the gothic atmosphere was strong and the fantasy/magical realism elements that were included added much to the read.

If you're interested in a slower gothic read with the themes mentioned above, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published May 6, 2025. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

*The Manor of Dreams* is a haunting, atmospheric masterpiece that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Christina Li has crafted a story that feels both timeless and urgently modern, weaving together themes of family, legacy, and the dark underbelly of ambition. From the very first page, the crumbling mansion at the heart of the novel feels like its own character—a place where secrets fester, ghosts whisper, and the past refuses to stay buried. It’s the kind of setting that pulls you in and refuses to let go, much like the story itself.

The dual timelines are expertly handled, creating a rich tapestry of intergenerational drama that unfolds with the precision of a thriller. Vivian Yin, the enigmatic Hollywood starlet, is a fascinating figure—her rise to fame, her sudden disappearance, and the mysteries surrounding her final days are utterly compelling. But it’s the living characters who truly shine. The two families vying for the mansion are flawed, complex, and achingly human, each carrying their own burdens of regret, resentment, and unspoken truths. As the haunting intensifies, so does the tension between them, and you can’t help but be drawn into their struggles, their secrets, and their desperate attempts to outrun the past.

What makes *The Manor of Dreams* so special is how it balances its gothic elements with deeply emotional storytelling. The eerie visions and unsettling occurrences are chilling, but they’re grounded in the very real pain and trauma of the characters. The novel asks difficult questions about the cost of success, the weight of cultural expectations, and the sacrifices we make in pursuit of the American Dream. It’s a story about what happens when the foundations we build our lives on begin to crumble—and whether we have the courage to face what lies beneath.

Christina Li’s writing is lush and evocative, with a lyrical quality that makes every scene feel vivid and alive. The pacing is perfect, with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. And the ending? It’s both satisfying and haunting, leaving you with a sense of closure but also a lingering unease—the kind that makes you want to revisit the story again and again.

If you’re a fan of gothic fiction, family sagas, or stories that delve into the complexities of identity and legacy, *The Manor of Dreams* is an absolute must-read. It’s a novel that will captivate you, unsettle you, and ultimately leave you breathless.

The premise of this book is so cool, for lack of better world. Old Hollywood? Haunted mansion? But to be honest, it felt convoluted with all of the POVs. I had trouble keeping track of who was related to who and what point in time certain things happened. By the time the book ended, I wasn't sure if the outcome had been obvious or if I missed something. Christina Li is a good storyteller, I just wish that the story chose less people to tell it through.

3.25 stars rounded down to 3.

I really, really wanted to love this one…. So many female Chinese American characters! A gothic, haunted manor! A mysteriously deadly garden! Sapphic love! But there was just TOO much going on and some of the loose ends that didn’t get tied up could have probably been cut to improve the pacing.

All of that stuff with the Dalby’s? Red herrings. Meaningless to the plot, it seems. Unless maybe there was some Amityville Horror stuff going on!? But I think it was just a case of “he finally showed his true colors” and not “he’s being possessed by his awful relative.”

I absolutely loved finally being able to get to know Ada and Sophie. They were my favorite characters in this book because everything felt so natural and real between them. The stuff between our modern characters felt too sudden and unnatural.

Overall, there were elements I really did love, but I think the identity of this book was all over the place (gothic horror, historical fiction, family drama, YA romance) and it led to some pacing issues for me.

A QUEER ASIAN FANTASY DO YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING??? this was utter perfection, no notes, 10/10. the atmosphere was solid, the characters had me invested immediately, and the plot was unique in a time were that’s hard to accomplish (plus anything sapphic and i come running) yall better pick this one up!!!

When I saw this book was comped to two of my favorite reads -- Mexican Gothic and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo -- I knew I had to download it. I have to say, it took me a really long time to get into the groove of this book. It was just one where I didn't feel super connected to the characters and therefore I found myself not compelled to pick it up and read it. Once I got past the halfway mark I was invested and I didn't see all the twists and turns coming. I will say, some of the horror/Gothic elements seemed a bit forced to me. Like perhaps they weren't necessary to execute the story? We learn very early on that you shouldn't go in the garden (but not why) and that there are some strange things happening in the house. But to me the book would have been fine without the constant mentions of dirt coming out of the faucet and vines growing where they shouldn't be. I definitely liked the flashback chapters better -- learning about Vivian Yin and her rise to fame in Hollywood. I was less connected to the modern day battle between two families for the house.

All in all, I was positive about this book, especially towards the latter half, but would not say it was a "must read" for me. It may be a great book for someone else though!

I loved the family drama in this, and the dual timelines that goes back to the 70s when actress Vivian Yin was building her career in Hollywood, to the current time which is taking place shortly after Vivian's death. I also loved that it was claustrophobic and gave The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, but mixed with a haunted house. What didn't work for me was the pacing, it is a bit of a slow burn, and the lack of spookiness consistently throughout the book. It really picked up at the end though and had a crazy ending!

A haunting page turner the house the characters a book I couldn’t put down.I will be recommending Christina Lisa Manner of dreams #netgalley#avidpress.

This was truly haunting and absolutely lived up to its comp titles. I can definitely see myself revisiting this story in the future.

This book was not at all what I thought it would be. It was like a mash up between Stacey Lee and Stephen King. Part historical fiction - part paranormal horror - all unique.

My only complaint is that the behavior and final choice of the younger sister at the end of the book made no sense to me given her earlier character development - and was not explained.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Marketed as a mix of Mexican Gothic and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this book had a lot of potential. I liked the beginning, and even a little further, as you learn more about how these two families are related. But I think that's where my praise stops.

First, this is not horror. There are some ghosts, a haunted house, and some creepy vines. Also, the writing here does not come anywhere close to Evelyn Hugo. The pace of the story is slow....really slow in some spots. You've got two timelines contained within the story. One is in the present day, and the other is in the 1970s/1980s in Hollywood. I would have loved for Li to develop the Hollywood timeline more to immerse the reader, but unfortunately, that didn't happen.

My biggest complaint is that this book is trying to do too much, and it shows. You finish reading to have so many unanswered questions because an issue would be introduced and then never mentioned again. What was the point of including these if they add nothing to the plot and just take up page space? Just off the top of my head, Li attempts to cover topics that include cultural traditions, domestic violence, the need for acceptance, prohibited same-sex relationships, complex family dynamics, and glitzy Hollywood life. I know I'm forgetting some, but there were just way too many topics all crammed into one story. The way they were incorporated was poorly done. Some of them are casually mentioned, others are more prominent. However, the writing feels chaotic, as if Li made a list of issues she wanted to cover and just inserted them at random points. The book would benefit from a serious edit.

The story is told slowly, it's boring and confusing. And the ending - I won't leave any spoilers but know that the overarching story is only half explained. A huge portion of the book is not incorporated into the ending AT ALL, to the point that I sat there staring at my Kindle, convinced that I must be missing the rest of the book. It just seemed unfinished. And how the ending was pulled together was extremely rushed, especially after the story was so slow until the last 15% of the book.

After finishing this story, I felt like I had wasted my time. I should have DNF'd it. I'm shocked by the high reviews for the book, but I'm fine with being in the minority on this one. My final take: don't bother.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!

With intense family drama and a haunted estate, it makes for a gripping read, this book has everything to keep you turning the pages. The Manor of Dreams is a mesmerizing blend of drama and suspense, with a mysterious situation that both families are struggling.

There were moments when I kept wondering how everything would unfold—who was who and what their true intentions were. I was completely intrigued, eager to see what would happen next.

Just a heads-up: this is a slow-paced read, and it takes some time to build momentum. But once it does, it will definitely pull you in and immerse you in the drama. The dual timeline POV doesn’t fully take off until the second half, where we uncover the past family drama and how it continues to impact the present.

The final part of the book ties everything together, answering the questions raised from the beginning. The only thing I wish had been explored more was the present timeline—I wanted more development for the characters after all they had been through, rather than just a couple of chapters wrapping things up.

There’s also a small plot twist at the very end, which was a nice touch. Overall, this was a great read! I really enjoyed it.

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li is an atmospheric, multi-generational story that weaves together history, ambition, and the haunting weight of family secrets. Set in a once-glamorous Hollywood estate, the novel moves between timelines, revealing the intertwined fates of two Chinese American families chasing the American Dream. Li’s storytelling is rich and immersive, balancing gothic intrigue with deeply human struggles. It’s a beautifully crafted novel that lingers with you, perfect for readers who love layered narratives with a touch of mystery and historical depth.

A very good ghost story about to families fighting over an inheritance of a haunted
house with a terrible past.

This is apparently Ms. Li's first adult outing, and honestly, it's a pretty damn solid adult debut. You have a haunted house and the generations of trauma that unfold inside and around it, and all the mysteries that are uncovered as the family matriarch lies dying. Nightmare in the sense that you see all the petty things that can be enacted by those who claim to love you, and what some people will do to escape bullshit. Definitely worth your time when this comes out this spring.