The Dolls House by Lisa Unger is a captivating and concise thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. Unger's ability to weave complex characters with a dark, twisting plot is truly impressive. Despite its brevity, this short story packs a punch, offering a quick yet immersive read. The story delves deep into the psyche of its characters, exploring themes of trauma, identity, and the masks we wear. The atmospheric writing pulled me in, making it easy to visualize the eerie settings and feel the tension building with each chapter.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, but overall, it didn’t detract much from the experience. The narrative kept me guessing, and the unexpected twists were well-executed.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. The Dolls House is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a story that can be devoured in one sitting and keeps them thinking long after the final page.

Fast-paced, thriller short story. It was bad, I just feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and I was honestly left confused by the last line. Not bad though, interesting concept.

So spooky in less then 100 pages.

Jules and her daughter Scout are moving in with her new boyfriend Kirin. But some things are not adding up.

This book is so fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole entire time. We have a little bit of a mystery and a little bit of spooky all mixed into one.

I could not put this book down until I reached the last page and even then the spooks did not stop.

Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 98
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone

The Doll’s House is a short story although there is so much that goes on that it doesn’t feel like a short story. Feels like a complete and surprisingly complex novel actually. It’s about 100 pages so you can read it fairly quickly.. I did find the ending fairly predictable although there were certain parts of the story I was surprised by. Scout is relatable and likeable character and I think this book will be a crowd pleaser.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Amazon for the advanced reader copy. Publication date Sep 14, 2024.

3.5 stars. This was a quick read that kept me engaged throughout. The book was predictable, but I still enjoyed reading it!

Very interesting short story. Around 100 pages. Creepy, entertaining and surprising! Definitely recommend

ARC 📖 Review: The Doll’s House by Lisa Unger
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5 stars)

Pub Date: 9/12/24

When I saw this short story on Netgalley I had to snag it! This was such a fun fast paced horror/thriller novella. Somewhat predictable but it kept me intrigued the whole time! Would definitely recommend this one for anyone looking for a quick read! Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🎎🚪🏠

A widowed mother, ready to give love another chance, moves into her fiancé’s old family home with her teenage daughter. But as they try to build a future together, the past refuses to let go in this haunting short story.

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Short, action packed, and to the point. Pretty predictable obviously but I still enjoyed it for what it was

ARC provided by Net Galley, all opinions are my own

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Short and easy to read, but still enough details to have me hooked very quickly. I devoured this in one sitting and definitely wanted more from this story.

The setting was delightfully creepy, who isn’t creeped out by puppets?

My only drawback is how short this was, that said, 4 stars!

Jules was widowed a year ago. She has recently found new love with Kirin and moves in his grandiose house with her daughter Scout. There is something ominous about the house,a smart home with a user interface titled Vivi. There's also an old mystery. Years ago Kirin's sister Emma disappeared without a trace.

The atmosphere is inauspicious and lingering. The story has gothic horror vibes. I don't usually enjoy short stories, but this was a good one.

Lisa Unger’s latest Amazon Original short story is a creepy and compelling tale just in time for spooky season. Jules, who was widowed a year ago, and Scout, her still-grieving teenage daughter, are moving in with Jules’s new love, Kirin. Kirin is a well-known, well-off artist famous for creating unique puppets and dolls. He’s anxious for Jules and Scout to feel at home in his AI-controlled home, but shortly after they arrive, weird things start happening and just keep getting weirder and more dangerous.

Lisa Unger packs a ton of creeptastic aspects into under 100 pages! So much good stuff and I was hooked immediately! The dolls, some of them sweet but others sinister and otherworldly, like the crow-inspired alien: obviously creepy. The AI house that controls access to various parts of the estate and tracks the inhabitants’ movements: creepy. The secret grief garden with its statue of a young girl who disappeared: creepy. The specter of a teenage girl in the grief garden: paranormal and creepy. This one can be read in one sitting, which I did. Short and satisfying, although I honestly think there was enough here to make a fantastic full-length novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for the ARC.
This was predictable. Though it was a short read, I struggled to finish this

This was a very engaging read! For a short novel that took 1-2 hours to read, it was surprisingly thrilling! The characters were intriguing and the premise of the story was unique and creepy! Good for a fall release for the Halloween/spooky season lovers!

I loved this short story so much. You know it's going to be creepy and the creepy moves fast in this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun novella about some creepy goings on.

There was a lot of info packed into this short book.

It was a good quick read. Definitely worth checking out and a perfect read as we approach spooky season.

It was just a little boring and predictable. Sometimes you want the novellas to just give you a bit of a surprise, this authors books can be a hit or miss.

I felt like the potential for this story was there, but it was a bit of a miss for me. I was hoping the ending wasn't going to be so obvious. It was a short read, but I still felt like it was long winded in areas that didn't really matter. If more time had been spent on the ending, the paranormal aspect, and the backstory I think I may have enjoyed it more.

It’s been Scout and Jules for a year. Jules never expected to be widowed at thirty-seven, with a teenage daughter, but that’s the new reality of her life. Jules also never expected to fall in love again or have to uproot her daughter during her teenage years. Scout didn’t want to live with Kiren and leave behind the memories of her father, but Jules pushed forward with her decision. Since the death of her father it’s just be the two of them, so Scout is feeling cautious about the move.
…
Scout and Jules move into Kiren’s childhood home. This is the same house Emma disappeared from. Her room stays frozen in time from when she was Kiren’s teenage sister.
…
The Dollhouse is a mysterious short story about a teenager who disappeared. When Jules and Scout move in they both encounter her presence. It’s like Emma is communicating to the both of them.
…
The greatest part about short stories is the pace. The Doll’s House is constantly moving leading readers into the mysterious depths of Winslow House. Lisa Unger took readers on a thrilling journey into a claustrophobic smart house designed to make people feel protected.

Promising premise but falls short in execution.

Lisa Unger is a hit or miss author for me. However, this Amazon original short story caught my eye. I love scary plots about creepy dolls! At less than 100 pages, I figured I would give it a shot.

A widowed mother and teenage daughter move into her fiancé’s ancestral smart house to begin their new life together. Both Jules and Scout are still mourning the suicide of their family patriarch. Her fiancé Kirin updates the house to suit their desires and a ghost can be seen haunting the grounds. When Scout finds a doll in Kirin’s sister, Emily’s old room, she becomes curious about her disappearance. What happened to Emily? Are they in danger?

I really enjoyed the first half of the short story. However, I was left with so many unanswered questions in the end as things started to get really wacko. The premise just fell apart, as if Unger didn’t really know where where she wanted to go with the story. I might have enjoyed this more if it was a full length book.

3.5/5 stars rounded down

Expected publication date: 9/12/24

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for the ARC of The Doll’s House in exchange for an honest review.

If the “Are You Afraid of the Dark” episode about the dollhouse in the attic or the Disney movie about a smart house gone wrong still create a seed of dread in the pit of your stomach, then this chilling, fast-paced, unputdownable thriller by Lisa Unger is likely for you. In less than 100 pages, Unger sets the stage for a truly chilling tale involving a small town cold case, ghostly conversations, and the consequences of getting everything you thought you wanted in your darkest moments. Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel and leave an honest review!