"The Keeper of the Key" by Nicole Willson is an exhilarating journey that captivates from the very first page. Willson’s vivid descriptions ignite the imagination, allowing readers to deeply connect with Rachel's experiences. The suspenseful moments, particularly in the eerie basement of the Morgan House, had me holding my breath, caught in a thrilling blend of curiosity and fear. With its fast-paced narrative and engaging plot twists, this book is perfect for those venturing into the realm of thrillers and mysteries, offering a gateway to an ultimate reading adventure.

a pretty nice YA spooky house horror, would be great to get teens into it. The protagonist is at times selfish and awkward, but that comes together to portray a very realistic person in a shockingly real way. The stepfather and mother also felt pretty real and straightforward. 4 stars. Tysm for the arc.

4.5 rounded up.
Creepy and well-paced, and I really liked the main character.

Energy: Assertive. Intuitive. Compassionate.

🐕 Howls: The writing leans to the younger side of YA (the tone, not the topics!), but it still worked for me. The very end was a little predictable, but that’s probably because I’m an adult reading a YA book 🤓.

🐩 Tail Wags: Relatable main character and feeling how horrifying her life situation has become. The insufferable stepdad character. Mix of creepy paranormal elements and real-life horrors. The spooks. The pacing. How Rachel sticks up for herself. Subtle but powerful commentary on how women’s fears and anxieties are often brushed off as overreactions. Commentary naturally woven through the story. Darker moments I was not expecting.

Scene: 🇺🇸 Old Victorian-style home near the town of St Marys, Virginia, USA
Perspective: A 3rd year high school student spending the summer break adjusting to life in their new stepparent’s home after their bioparent’s whirlwind romance.
Timeline: Current (2010s or 2020s). Over the summer break from school.
🔥 Fuel: The romance, the family life, the home invasion, the basement visions, the missing girls, the situation with geoffs past and the houses past.
📖 Cred: Supernatural/paranormal realism

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Thai restaurant. Furniture polish. Must. Cozy bookstore. Creepy basement. Black hair dye. Cemeteries. Coffee.
• My house my rules stepparent
• Moving to an old Victorian mansion
• Main character you can root for
• Touch of missing teens mystery
• Bookstore meet-cute
• First love romance
• Imperfect parents
• Gothic coming-of-age
• Ghostly visions and vengeance
• First person narrator sharing their thoughts and observations
• Hints of supernatural and magical realism

Content Heads-Up: Loss of parent (as toddler; child; preteen). Body shaming (appearance, hair dye, style). Blood, death. Alcohol (underage; provided by adult). Dietary shaming (vegetarian). Home invasion, gun violence (brief, on page). Murder. Night terrors, sleepwalking. Sexual content (consenting; make out, first time, birth control; on page). Infidelity (recall). Abusive relationship (physical assault, obsession, stalking). Confinement. Fire (building).

Rep: American. Hispanic or Latin American peripheral character. Cis. Hetero. Pale and dark skin tones.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from BooksGoSocial, Parliament House Press, and NetGalley

i received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review, given of my own free will

this was a very nice read after having read a lot of heavier and length books in a row. however, one of my biggest peeves with YA horror novels is the wednesday addams effect. the second a female MC refers to herself as wednesday addams in any form (whether she says she’s like her or someone else does) i groan. every time im met with the same type of character, and every time i am more and more annoyed by her existence as i read. i don’t know why this ‘trope’ is just SO common in YA horror but its been all i’ve seen lately. that made this very hard to read as i wasn’t entirely rooting for rachel. i was in the back of my mind, but it was harder and harder. however, this was a nice palate cleanse for me to clear my head a bit. however, one thing that was not brought up and definitely needed to, <spoiler>the fact that there was a HUGE age gap relationship, arguably pedofilic given everything. </spoiler> why was this never discussed?? huge red flag when something like that happens and it’s not seen as an issue
additionally, the title is pretty damn misleading. it’s not brought up until the very, very end of the book, and even then very briefly?? it makes the audience think rachel will be the keeper or something. i think there could’ve been a lot better titles that tied to the true plot better

As far as YA horrors go, this is pretty scary. There's a creepy house, a new family dynamic that's ultra tense, a new town, and a boy that's...a bit off. The romance between Rachel and Nick is pretty cringe. It could be their age or the speed with which they get close--not sure. The spooky stuff keeps happening at the house and family secrets are revealed--the hits just keep coming! Very intense, very scary. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Rachel is a sixteen year old girl who is not the biggest fan of her mums new boyfriend and so you can imagine how she feels when she’s told they will be moving in with him. Not only is she unhappy about living with Geoff who she believes to be fake and overbearing but she’s being uprooted to a creepy old house in the middle of nowhere. The only good part of this new town (other than the local bookstore) is Nick, a mysterious loner who captures her attention. Things aren’t going that great with this new situation but Rachel is trying her best, that is.. until the nightmares start.

This book really captured my attention straight away, there are so many different characters that add depth, Rachel and her stepfather are so at odds with one another it creates a feeling of confidence as you feel you can predict where the story is headed. I guarantee you are wrong! The atmosphere was so well done, it really helped create a creepy feeling. I liked the addition of Nick as it unbalances the story, he is a mystery to us. The family was also really nice to read about, she has an amazing relationship with her mother and grandmother in particular, this helped lighten it slightly and add some humour to an otherwise completely spooky read.

I think this would be such a great horror film, the setting is a gothic and very creepy old house in the middle of the woods for a start. Then we have an unpredictable storyline, cute boys, cemetery dates and dark spirits dragging Rachel to the basement in the middle of the night. Fun right?!

What seems like a straightforward horror plot where you think you know the answer turns into something entirely different and the real cause of the horror will have you shocked. I had a great time reading this and I would definitely recommend this!

This was a great YA horror. I liked our main character Rachel a lot, and she felt real and well-rounded. I liked that she was goth, too. The house itself was so creepy, but even worse was her stepfather Geoff. I'm impressed with how unlikeable Willson managed to make him. The big reveal at the end was a complete surprise.

2.5 stars rounded up.

While the book itself didn't quite end up being my cup of tea, I really enjoyed the writing of this creepy little gothic YA story. It was a quick, engaging read that I finished in no time. The horror scenes were by far my favourite thing about this book - they are really well done and genuinely creeped me out - I wish there were more of them!

The characters and their decisions are frequently frustrating, including our main 16-year-old protagonist Rachel. I was rooting for her while also finding myself irritated at just how naive she was. But then, I remember being 16.

There are some twisty-turns in this one, which I was able to guess early on, but the lead-up may be fun and engaging for someone newer to the genre. I didn't enjoy any aspect of the romance and wonder if it might be bordering on a touch too explicit for a teen title, but I know there are varying opinions on this.

I wish the writing had been more descriptive as well - a story like this deserves some gothic atmospheric vibes in the locations where we spend the most time. Unfortunately, I was really left wanting when it came to the setting and world-building, even for the Morgan House itself.

The story and writing are engaging, with some great horror imagery woven throughout. This book may be great for a teen just dipping their toes into the gothic horror genre!

Thanks to Parliament House Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Keeper of the Key is due to release November 12, 2024.

Well this was the perfect book to read in October. Has all the spooky vibes.

Rachel’s mom announces over dinner that her new boyfriend wants them to move into his creepy mansion. Rachel, who is 16 of course is pissed. I read reviews that people found Rachel annoying. She’s 16, her father has passed away suddenly, her mom is dating a jerk and now she moves into a creepy mansion. Her actions and behavior is warranted.

Geoff, her mom’s new boyfriend is horrible. But to make matters worse, his house is haunted.

I couldn’t put this book down. Fair warning, it’s YA for those who don’t want to read about a teenager and their angst. I didn’t mind it. I thought the author portrayed the POV of a 16 year old perfectly.

The ending took a turn in the most unexpected way, but it gave all the spooky vibes that I needed for fall.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending the ARC.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review

The Keeper of the Key follows a very common trope when it comes to young adult horror, where the teenage protagonist is whisked away from the life she knew to a seemingly decrepit mansion where sudden and strange events start happening around her, and this book absolutely delivers. The author has done an exceptional job as making the characters realistic, the atmosphere chilling and the story engaging enough to keep you turning pages long after the sun has gone down.

''A chilling new gothic horror novel that will sink into your bones.''
This book started off promising. The first quarter of the book delivered on the promised chills and creeps. I definitely checked the shadows in the room a couple of times. Somewhere around the middle it wandered off into the woods and then rushed up the path to the end.

Rachel not Rach, even I was sick of Geoff calling her that, is the typical teen moved from her friends to a new town. She was grumpy, whiny, and written well. Her mother came off as a weak character and person. Geoff had all the hallmarks of the creepy boyfriend/stepdad. Nick, the new town boy and summer crush who came off a little lacking for a main character.

Alongside the horror is teen romance which moves fast, feels rushed and lacks any real foundation beyond a couple of lone teens. They go from a couple of dates, to sex, to love in a matter of chapters. Yes, they seemed to have a connection, but the depth of it all moved to fast to be interesting. Nick also comes off as a coercive character, which is well written and believable. In fact once the real horror moves onto knocking doors and crying Nick easily slips into the lead as the scary part of the book.

The ending was an interesting twist on the haunted house trope, but certain elements in the ending needed more exploration throughout the story.

Grab this book for a dark night read, but keep a light on because you never know what might be hiding in the shadows.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher Parliament House Press, and author Nicole Willson.

TW: Guns, Death, and stabbing by Garden Shears

Rachel is a 16/17 year old who is forced to move from her normal life in Rockville to St. Mary because her mom (Tara) is moving in with her boyfriend Geoff. Not only is it bad enough that her mom is moving in with someone she doesn't like, the house is big and creepy (its name is The Morgan House) and the wi-fi coverage is horrible. Geoff continually warns Rachel to stay out of the basement and she thinks that is a weird rule until one evening she has a strange encounter with a ghost in the house and she wakes up to find herself in said basement. This happens to Rachel on more than one occasion and her mom thinks she might be sleepwalking and Geoff thinks she's being a spiteful teenager and this causes a rift between all three. There are things in Geoff's past that he is intentionally hiding from Rachel and her mom that have to do with the basement.

Not all is bad in St. Mary. She finds a bookstore.... that has a puppy greeter!!! Who wouldn't that make someone happy?? I know it would me. But, she meets a boy named Nick whom she gets to know and vice versa. As much as Rachel gets to know Nick, there seems to be some secrets he's holding as well.

I will say this book worked well with my ADD because the chapters were shorter, I really enjoyed that. I will say I was disappointed as there was a character introduced as a missing person and was mentioned a few times but it was never wrapped up as what happened to them. You could assume what happened but actually knowing would have been better. This book did keep me guessing for a little while but once I figured it out, it all made sense. One of my favorite lines is: "'God damn it.' Instead of letting the things in this house - whoever or whatever they are - take me down to the basement, I'm going down there myself." I love this fuck it attitude, it just reminds me of me.

First of all I want to talk about how absolutely gorgeous the cover of this book is, definitely one of my favorites and what initially drew me to it. It does read like your standard young adult horror book but that's okay, as a 33 year old I still really enjoyed it. It was very eerie and spooky, the author did a fantastic job with describing the setting. I loved the character of Rachel and how much she stood up to my least favorite character Geoff and I loved the romance she had in this book. I was definitely not expecting some of the twists, some of which I cheered for and some that made me sad. I loved how descriptive the author was for all the spooky things that happened to Rachel, I could actually visualize them in my head which aided in freaking me out more. I'm very excited to continue reading from this author.

Many thanks to Parliament House Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an arc!

I adored Tidepool by Nicole Willson, so when I saw she was writing a new book about a spooky house, I was so excited. I love any stories involving gothic or haunted houses, and this one did not disappoint.

Sixteen year old Rachel does not want to go live at Morgan House with her Mother & Geoff, her soon-to-be stepfather. But her family drama becomes the least of her worries as she begins to see strange, scary things in her new home. What happened at this house? And can she figure it out before it's too late?

This is a fast-paced story, perfect for spooky season. It does tend more young-adult, but that's fitting as the main character is a teenager; I think teen readers will relate more to Rachel, but I was rooting for her as an older reader as well. The book is well-written, and engages the reader quickly; the plot & mystery were well-structured, and kept me turning pages as I tried to figure out the mystery with Rachel.

I would recommend The Keeper of the Key to fans of spooky mysteries & gothic houses; a comparative read would be The Doll's House by Lisa Unger. Overall, I think this is another success from Nicole Willson, and I hope she keeps writing!

So I really wanted to like this book, but by the time I reached 28% in (after 3 weeks) I finally had to admit that I just didn't care. Rachel was annoying, but mostly because there was no real reason to dislike Geoff. Sure he talked to her like she was a kid, but he didn't have children of his own and that's how those people tend to talk to kids. I assume he gets worse further in, but I don't care. Then there's Nick. The only reason Rachel liked him was because he was a guy. I'd thought we, as a species, had outgrown that trope, but I guess not. He wasn't cute, he dismissed her thoughts and feelings, and I could see the writing on the wall. I thought perhaps eventually Rachel would realize that she was acting just like her mother, moving too fast on a guy she barely knows, but I just don't care to find out if that happens. Also the whole "Nick's made me the happiest I've been since I moved to St Mary's" is stupid because she's only been there like 3 days. It wasn't months of unhappiness, just 3 days. Plus the two had only spoken twice (one of those times being extremely disturbing) before that declaration.

As for Morgan House, of course everything started as soon as they moved in. But so much time is spent on Rachel hating Geoff, missing wi-fi, and Nick, that the house seems like an entirely separate story. Things that would have freaked out any normal person, get dismissed quickly so Rachel can concentrate on Geoff, wi-fi, and Nick.

More time is spent on Rachel's inner thoughts than on what's going on around her and most of her thoughts are very repetitive. When she's talking to Nick at the cemetery, more time is spent on her thoughts than on their conversation. Which the conversation was full of red flags, but Rachel was so busy thinking about her dad and 3rd grade teacher that she had to have been standing there, silently, for nearly the entire visit. Why is Nick attracted to her? Probably because he's just looking for his next victim not a girlfriend.

Also, 28% of the way in, we've only been introduced to Elana (who's quickly shoved out of the picture), Geoff, Mom, Rachel, Nick, and the bookshop owner. There's little description of the town. According to Geoff, St Mary's has a good school system, but the only person Rachel's age that seems to live there is Nick. The world of the book comes off as very small and compartmentalized. The stuff that happens at Morgan House is very rarely even thought about except when the things are currently happening and once they're over, Rachel just seems to quit caring about them except for a stray thought here and there.

**Book Review: The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson**
**Rating: 4.5 Stars**
Thanks to NetGalley, Parliament House Press, and Nicole Willson for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.

I absolutely enjoyed *The Keeper of the Key*. It was creepy, atmospheric, and delivered all the gothic fall vibes I was hoping for. The eerie setting and suspenseful narrative had me hooked, and I could easily see this story being adapted into a great movie. There were genuinely scary parts, and the story kept me glued to my Kindle from start to finish.

Did I guess the ending? Yes. Did that take away from the experience? Not at all. Even though I figured out the main twist, there were plenty of surprises along the way that kept me engaged.

While the book is clearly YA, that didn’t bother me. As a mother of teenagers, I occasionally found myself siding with the adults over the main character, but I think that actually helped me connect with the story on a deeper level.

Overall, I’d highly recommend *The Keeper of the Key* if you’re in the mood for a creepy, quick, and fun YA read perfect for spooky season!

When Rachel, a sixteen year old is uprooted from her life to move to an isolated house in the remote town of St Mary, Virginia, she begins to have nightmares or visions that blur reality. Are they a result of the move because she does not like her mom’s boyfriend, and she is away from her fiends, or is there something more sinister happening in the house?
A found the story entertaining, eerie and relatable to my teenage self. I enjoy when an author can envoys feelings that are relatable. You feel for Rachel in her grief, confusion, her desire to be there for her mom, and the excitement of her first love.
I feel that the male characters; Geoff and Nick. old have used more character development, it may have been intentional to create more mystery; however left me with more questions. Or that could be my older self needing more answers.
As a YA, gothic thriller, it is a compelling story that borders on supernatural.

My nerves were shattered by the time I finished this book.

If follows Rachel as she moves from her familiar hometown and friends to a huge spooky house owned by her mums boyfriend.

Creepy goings on, a hot new boyfriend and a stepdad she just can't see eye to eye with all end in a huge twist you'll never see coming.

Really enjoyed this book, was quick passed, had a great amount of mystery that kept you guessing throughout and the ending was both unexpected and amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Nicole Willson for the opportunity to review the ARC of The Keeper of the Key. This book is perfect for October, spooky and twisted in the best ways. To save from spoilers, I want to say that I gave it a four, as some parts were just not quite my thing. But I would read another book from Nicole, and see how I feel! Some characters were better than others, and the twist? I sort of felt like there had been clues throughout the novel, but I just wasn't prepared. 4/5!