Lisa Unger’s The Doll House is spooky season perfect. I don’t read a lot of shorter novels, but I will always make an exception for Lisa Unger. This one is creepy, twisty, and, even though it’s short, I was able to really connect with Jules and Scout. There’s just enough of the paranormal to make it believable without being over the top, and I loved it!

What a novella!!!
Filled with everything that you are looking for in a thriller.
Eerie twists and turns that keep you wanting more.

An extremely creepy short story about a seemingly perfect man that creates dolls - a perfect spooky fall read!

Lisa Unger is a favorite and this creepy short story is perfect for spooky season. It’s unsettling in the best possible way! Short and sweet! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Lisa Unger has written my kind of spooky in her most recent short story, which I can only say makes me glad I wasn’t much of a doll kind of girl growing up!

When renowned puppet and doll maker Kirin Winslow invites his love Jules and her 17-year-old daughter Scout to live with him on his 20-acre estate, it looks like a dream come true. After losing her husband by his own hand, Jules is convinced that Kirin’s devotion and kindness to her and Scout will be the new start for them that they both need.

One person who’s not thrilled with this move is Scout. She and Jules have always been close, and even more so after her dad’s death, but now Jules has sold their beloved NYC apartment, moved Scout away from her school and friends and seems to be growing strangely less available for her by the day. Maybe the beautiful doll she discovered while wandering the house can keep her company …

You know it’s only going to get creepier when a doll is introduced, right? Add in an eerily polite AI smart home assistant named Vivi and that creepy quotient only multiplies! Told in alternating chapters by Jules and Scout, I enjoyed the dual POVs and how their stories came together for the spine-chilling conclusion!

This was engaging from the get-go, and I had a lot of fun with it. Though just under 100 pages, I felt like I got a complete and satisfying story arc, which is a credit to Unger’s talent, since that often doesn’t happen with short stories. It was never full-on scary, but the vibes stayed weird and ominous throughout, with light touches of horror and the supernatural.

If you want a quick, entertaining read for the spooky season, this may be worth your time!

★★★★

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Lisa Unger’s The Doll’s House is a haunting short story that masterfully blends supernatural elements with contemporary family drama. Set in a once-lonely mansion in a small town, this tale explores themes of grief, love, and the lingering shadows of the past.

The story follows Jules, a widowed mother who, after meeting the charming artist Kirin, decides to move into his old family home with her teenage daughter, Scout. Jules is ready to embrace a new chapter in her life, but Scout is determined to keep her father’s memory alive, resisting the changes that come with their new life. The tension between mother and daughter is palpable, adding depth to their characters and making their struggles relatable.

Unger excels at creating an eerie atmosphere that permeates the mansion. The house, with its many empty rooms and hidden corners, becomes a character in its own right. The discovery of a beautiful handmade doll, which Kirin claims belonged to his late sister, adds a layer of mystery and foreboding. Scout’s initial sullenness begins to fade as she becomes intrigued by the doll and the secrets it might hold.

The pacing of The Doll’s House is impeccable. Unger skillfully balances moments of quiet introspection with bursts of suspense, keeping the reader engaged throughout. The narrative is tightly woven, with each revelation adding to the overall sense of unease. The supernatural elements are subtly integrated, enhancing the story’s haunting quality without overshadowing the emotional core of the characters’ journey.

This short story is its explores how the past can shape and haunt the present. Unger delves into the psychological impact of grief and the ways in which people cope with loss. The characters’ interactions are authentic and emotionally charged, making their journey both compelling and heart-wrenching.

The Doll’s House is a beautifully crafted short story. Lisa Unger has delivered a tale that is chilling and deeply moving, with characters that resonate and a plot that keeps you guessing.

For fans of supernatural thrillers and emotionally rich narratives, this story is a must-read!

This is the perfect book for the season! I love it and I am so glad I was gifted this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was such a good spooky short story. I'm not one to love a bunch of scary or horror books, so this little taste of one was perfect for me. I thought the scene was set from the first page of the book, and enough tension was created. I loved the dual POV and thought it was definitely well done. While I left wanting more, as I often do with short stories, I really enjoyed my time spent with this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Amazon Original Stories for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Review to come in 9 days on blog/other places.

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

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👻 I loved seeing both the POV of the mom and the daughter. If it was just the daughter... well I would have DNF-ed the book SO FAST. I mean, nothing against Scout, she is 100% a teen, but she just got on my nerves. So I am happy that we also got to balance it with Jules/the mom, and get some insights on why mom made these decisions. We learn that not everything is as it seems, that mom really cares, but she had to make some tough decisions and also made the decision to shield Scout from her father's depressions/mental health.
👻 The dolls! So many dolls. You know, I would have said HECK nope to it all, but apparently both Scout and Jules aren't that scared of dolls. I would for the life of everything NEVER marry someone who makes dolls. I am terrified of them.
👻 Vivi, the house AI/bot, was well written and made some moments much tenser. She controls the house. She only listens to one person. You know the deal with that in horror stuff like this.
👻 Seeing a ghost haunt the gardens. But is she an evil or a good ghost?
👻 Finding out about that ghost, but also get some other hints that something is NOT right at the estate. Something is wrong with Kirin. That was a lot of fun to read!
👻 The ending, and then specifically the last bit of it. That scared the jeepers out of me.
👻 I love that Scout found her people so soon.

💀 But it was just too rushed. If you didn't think about the time it is fine, but as soon as you think that it was only merely 2-3 days that is when the story collapses for me. It just doesn't make sense for everything to happen so quickly. It just loses the build-up if you think about that time elapsed. Scout's friendship just feels weird then, the possible romance between Racer feels like a love at first sight. Why is everything found so quickly? It just goes too fast. So I think that should have been better. Even if that meant adding a few more pages, or I don't know, a time skip of a month with a small bit of a recap on spooky things that happened. That would have worked.
💀 Again, Scout was a true teen, but at times I wanted to yeet her in the nearest garbage mountain. Bye.
💀 I am not sure how I felt that Jules suddenly saw Doug (her dead husband). That just made it weird, especially when she started talking to him. I am still not sure if it is because of the whack on her head, or something else. Again, with a bit longer time line it may have worked out. Now it was just weird.

But in overall, again don't think about the short time line, it was a good spooky read with several thrills. I would still recommend it.

A fun twisted little short story. Felt a little bit like it was trying to accomplish more than it had time for, but overall it was an enjoyable and quick read

Perfect short story for fall, the right about of suspense mixed with a side of scary. Some short stories feel incomplete and this is not one of them. Enjoy this quick read from Lisa Unger!

Short, sweet and creepy a perfect combination for fall. Jules and Scout are moving in with Jules new boyfriend in a huge house. Kirin Jules new boyfriend has made his house perfect for Jules and scout. I was immediately sucked in to this story. I love creepy books and this was just perfect for spooky season!

Lisa Unger is a master at suspense and this book was no different!

After the hard and sudden loss of her husband, Jules never thought she would find love again, but it fell into her lap like it was meant to be.

Now, Jules and her daughter, Scout, are moving into her new man, Kirin’s, house, but maybe everything isn’t as perfect as it seems

While this book was super short, the pacing was intense and I loved it. I could not put this book down until I got to the end.

Perfect for spooky season and a great introduction to a wonderful author!

Thoroughly enjoyed this short story. such a fun spooky read for fall time and October. I loved the haunted house vibe especially

Jules, a widowed mother, moves into her fiance's old family mansion with her teenage daughter, Scout.
Ready to give love another chance they quickly discover that danger lurks around every corner.
A quick and creepy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an arc of this short story in exchange for my honest review.

Jules, a widow, and her teenage daughter Scout move in with Jules' rich and handsome boyfriend Kirin, an artist, into his palatial family home.

This is an enjoyable short story by Lisa Unger, a little bit psychological horror, a little bit of a mystery involving Kirin's missing sister, along with a smattering of teenage angst on the part of Scout. It felt like there was too much crammed into such a short book and it was a little predictable. I think I would've liked it more if it was longer and edgier. There are many many 4 and 5 star reviews so I'm definitely an outlier on this one.

My thanks to Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novella. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: September 12, 2024

This chilling short story kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a quick read and perfect for 'spooky season'. This book will make you think twice about dolls and AI.

I was hooked from the very first page and read this in one sitting. I was able to guess the outcome, but that didn't take away at how creepy and sometimes terrifying this book was.

This was a nice little mystery. It had some much appreciated spooky feels. I feel this is a great read for spooky season. It's short and sweet...or scary!

I will never not be afraid of Ai and lifelike dolls. Although this story was short it was terrifying. As soon as I read the words “you have all access to the house” I knew nothing good was going to happen. Lisa Unger did a great job with this short thriller. Just enough for a good old creepy feel but not to terrifying.

I really enjoyed The Doll's House. It was a suspenseful and spooky read.

I was hooked immediately, and I read it in one sitting. I loved the concept, and while it was a great short story, it could have been an even better novel. I actually didn't want it to end.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Lisa Unger for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.