"House of Beth" by Kerry Cullen is a haunting and mysterious read. The protagonist, Cassie, struggles with OCD, which manifests in intrusive thoughts centered around unwanted themes and harm. She also comes across as flighty and impulsive, presenting as a messy and unreliable narrator.

When her life becomes overwhelming, Cassie leaves her publishing job and girlfriend to return to her hometown. There, she reconnects with her childhood best friend, Eli, a recent widower and father of two. As she becomes absorbed in his life, she also finds herself enmeshed in his deceased wife, Beth’s life.

Much like Cassie’s favorite book, "Jane Eyre," readers will be left guessing about the truth: the realities of Beth’s past, Cassie’s state of mind, and what might be a mere obsessive figment of her disorder.

This brief yet captivating story will keep you on your toes. If you enjoy suspenseful, thought-provoking novels like "Jane Eyre" or "Verity," or appreciate a messy protagonist similar to those in "The Guest" or "Big Swiss," or the goriness of "Monstrilio," then this novel may be just what you’re looking for. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was PHENOMENAL. HOUSE OF BETH follows Cassie from her New York City desk job in publishing back to her hometown of Elwood, New Jersey, where she somehow finds herself stepmother to her childhood best friend’s children after running from something horrifying — something that wasn’t her fault, but that she couldn’t face. Throughout this, Cassie is mourning the loss of her relationships back in New York, especially with her girlfriend, Lavender, whom she felt she knew wholly, and who knew her like that, too. She’s clamoring to escape the intrusive thoughts she has, of death and pain, all at her hands. But throughout the book she’s also discovering something new about herself that will shape the way she lives the rest of her life.

This is a story about living authentically, and the consequences we suffer when we don’t. It’s a story about love and what we’ll do to escape situations where we don’t feel it. Told in dual POVs, both of which I enjoyed, there wasn’t a single moment when I was reading HOUSE OF BETH that I felt bored or like the story wasn’t stringing together in a way that I could follow — every moment felt necessary and the ending had me flipping to the next page, shocked that that was how Cassie exited stage right. But it also felt like the natural conclusion to this story.

If you’re a fan of eerie, gothic stories and think you’d enjoy reading one set in the suburbs of North Jersey, you should absolutely pick this one up. This was a fantastic debut and I can’t wait for the waves it’ll eventually make!

Cassie is flawed yet deeply empathetic. Her escape from heartbreak and professional trauma leads her back to her hometown along the quiet banks of the Delaware River. Her attempt to rebuild a simpler life—reconnecting with her childhood best friend Eli and embracing the rhythms of a slower, more domestic existence—is complicated by her struggles with harm OCD. Her intrusive, gory thoughts are portrayed with honesty and care, giving readers insight into Cassie’s private turmoil while grounding her in a raw, human vulnerability.

The shadow of Beth, Eli’s late wife, looms over every inch of Cassie’s new life—her presence felt in the perfectly maintained décor, the home’s routines, and Eli’s unspoken grief. The tension builds beautifully as Cassie begins to sense something unnatural about the home and its secrets. The introduction of the disembodied voice, narrating the house’s hidden truths, adds an eerie layer to the story, turning the setting into a character all its own.

Cassie’s search for answers about Beth’s death unfolds deliberately, grippingly. The novel skillfully balances Cassie’s struggles with the escalating sense of dread, creating a psychological mystery that is as much about Cassie uncovering herself as it is about solving the riddle of the house. Joan, the reserved neighbor who offers quiet moments of wisdom and guidance, serves as a subtle foil to Beth’s idealized memory, further deepening the novel’s exploration of traditional domestic roles and the expectations placed on women.

It’s an engrossing and beautifully written exploration of the ghosts we carry, both real and imagined.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.