First, I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me this ARC. I can't express how dismayed I am by this.
DNF

I'm clearly in the minority here with this one. I got to be honest, the reason I DNF-ed this book isn't precisely the writing style (although I had problems with it) or the characters nor the plot (even if I'm still not quite sure what it was about) but the book as a whole. Everything in it made my stomach turn or worse. Before I dive into the details, I must emphasize, this is only my personal opinion and if you find this story enjoyable, I'm not here to judge you. I merely expressing my thoughts.

Contents and/or triggers as far as I ventured into the story:
▢ drugs & addiction
▢ sexual content
▢ witchcraft
▢ homosexuality (not detailed as far as I know)
▢ conjuring, rituals, sacrifice
▢ ghosts
▢ hallucinations
▢ (maybe some more later on)

For me, it contained way too much of the ones above. It's stuffed with these "hot" moments, which I personaly loathe when it comes to books like this. (I mean crime, horror, thriller) It's inconvenient to the story. But what I found to be the worst part was this conjuring (?) ritual where everyone had to kiss the person each side of them. (Yes, there were women and men kissing with the same sex. And they seemed to enjoy it. Again, I'm not criticising anyone. Just telling what my problem was.) As for the hallucinations, I found them confusing to say the least.
The writing style also made me feel like I'm reading a story which isn't written by J.D. Barker. I just can't wrap my head around the idea how could he wrote this story down the way he did. Also it's nothing like any of his previous works, didn't pull me in, wasn't intriguing at all.

I've always loved J.D. Barker's books. I believe he writes in a unique, immersive way. But that's also the reason why it hit me so hard to see how profoundly poor this book's quality was.
The fact that it did not meet my expectations is undisputable but it doesn't mean no one would enjoy it. It just wasn't my cup of tea. But I got to admit, the next time a new Barker book comes in my way I'll tread with caution first, if ever.

i was confused at first by the book, then got really into it, it took 2 days of reading but the second day i could not stop no matter what. I had to know the ending, which did not disappoint.

Thankyou for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Something I Keep Upstairs, in exchange for an honest opinion.
Well, I just smashed out reading this book and all I can say is , J D Barker has delivered a quality read yet again.
From the opening pages, the author grips you with the narrative and does not let up until the final pages.
If you're looking for an exciting read, jump in and hold on. I certainly don't think you will be disappointed.
Highly recommended and worth more than the 5 stars I can give it.

Leave it to Barker to keep me on the edge of my seat! He never fails to give us a twisty and gripping book that has you saying what just happened at the end. Something I Keep Upstairs is no exception!

This creepy supernatural thriller is a frightening novel which reveals it's secrets little by little, each one getting more and more terrifying.

A teenage boy finds out his grandmother has died under suspicious circumstances and that she has left everything to him. She was a hermit who lived on an island near a coastal town in New Hampshire. Not only does he get the house but the entire island as well plus more money than he could imagine.

But there are some cryptic rules which go along with that. An we'll find out that breaking those rules can lead to horrific circumstances.

A small group of friends gather at the house but pretty soon, some bizarre things begin taking place. And as events spiral out of control and people begin to change and go missing, the puzzle pieces surrounding this island start coming together and it's even worse than anyone imagined.

Eventually we'll see how this evil has infected this town for generations. This is a twisty kind of novel with little reveals and information coming throughout the book. This will keep your attention because you'll want to discover how different events all work together in the big picture.

There's a lot of fantastic characters. Several of them are seemingly secondary until something happens which makes them important to the narrative.

It's atmospheric, creepy, and horrifying. I highly recommend it.

J.D. Barker's Something I Keep Upstairs delivers a chilling blend of supernatural horror and coming-of-age drama. The premise—a haunted house requiring a death to be "born"—is both intriguing and sinister, setting the stage for a slow-burn unraveling of dark secrets. The eerie atmosphere of the island and its haunting history are vividly described, keeping readers on edge. While the dynamic between Billy and David adds emotional weight, the pacing sometimes falters, and the secondary characters feel underdeveloped. Still, the story's twists and chilling climax make it a worthwhile read for horror fans. A solid 3.5 stars.

Something I Keep Upstairs is a JD Barker book, and I loved it. The end. Only kidding😁
Told mostly by Billy Hasler, a 17-year-old who always looks out for his friend David Spivey. David is not a popular teenager and his parents have a ton of issues. When his grandmother dies, a grandmother that Billy did not even know existed, he inherits not only an island, but boat loads of cash and a shall we say strange lawyer.
Wood Island lies off the coast of New Castle, New Hampshire. Have Billy and David ever discussed it or ventured out to the island? They have not, but this is where his grandmother lived, and this is the island that David now owns. Every teenager who ignored or harassed him now wants to attend the parties, with no adult supervision, that David throws. But that just might be an unwise decision as things on Wood Island, are not what they seem.
This story had so many twists, turns, and reveals, that I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on, and where the story was headed. I shall say no more because I do not want to fall off the boat going to Wood Island and potentially reveal spoilers(hoping that maybe the sharks will take pity on me). I do not know if that would even be possible considering that every time, I thought the story was headed in one direction, it would do a 180° turn.
I would suggest that you look at this book on NetGalley. It is described as a mystery and thriller, as well as a horror book, and if that and the description appeals to you, request it at once.
At the bottom of the description, under Links, there is an amazing contest. One that I would love to win. 🤞

I’m a huge fan of JD Barker’s 4MK series, so I was really excited to check out his latest novel, Something I Keep Upstairs. Barker is an incredible storyteller, and his writing is always top-notch. The plot in this one was definitely unique. It didn’t have the same level of tension I’ve come to expect from Barker, but it was still a very creative story that kept me curious about how events would unfold.

While the storyline is strong, I struggled with who this book is really meant for. My kids are adults now, but I don’t think the theme of suicide would have been suitable for them when they were younger, especially considering the serious mental health challenges many young people face today. At the same time, I wouldn’t call it adult horror either, mainly because the main characters are so young. At minimum, please consider including a trigger warning at the beginning of the novel so readers have an opportunity to pass on the story if suicide is a sensitive topic for them.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, and JD Barker for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. J.D. Barker has recently become one of my favorite authors and I have read all of his books except for The Forsaken so I cannot speak on how that book is but this one was so different than his others. It was a true haunted house story and those are not usually what I like but this one was sooo good. It was action packed and I read it as if it was a good horror movie. Barker is an incredible story teller who weaves tales that make you go, "how did he come up with that?". This book really does make you think about the origins of a haunted house and how it starts from something. Barker still remains a fave.

This is one of the creepiest haunted house stories that I have ever read! It was extremely dark and strange and reminded me of something Stephen King would have written. For most of the book, not much made sense, but when everything clicked together, I couldn't pick my jaw up off the floor. The plot was absolutely brilliant and extremely creative! The story is a long one though, over 500 pages. Its pacing is slower than the author's other books, but I still read it as fast as I could. It was so interesting that I couldn't put it down. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around everything. I'm a little confused as to why this book was marketed as YA. Some of the characters may have been teens, but the content was definitely more geared to adults. Don't let that YA label steer you away. This was classic horror at its finest! I loved it and I think Barker fans and horror junkies are going to love it, too. I highly recommend!

Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

I will read anything Barker writes and this was one of the creepiest, darkest books ever! Most of it takes place on Wood Island which was given to David Spivey by his dead grandmother. So when he and pal, Billy motor out there they discover more than they had imagined. The house itself is immaculate and there's even food in the fridge, but something just isn't right. Regardless, Bill and Spivey invite all their high school friends out there to drink, party, and even have a seance. And then they plan to make it a haunted house....Just read the book and prepare yourself!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Everything J.D. Barker writes is pure gold. I loved this haunted house story, and honestly had no idea where it was going the entire time! Spivey was an interesting character, I loved every minute of this novel.

Horror, Ghost Stories, Young Adult not my usual genre, but as JD BARKER wrote it, I wanted to read it.

Story set in coastal New Hampshire with seventeen year old Billy Hasler and his friend David. David inherits a house where they plan to spend the summer. Sounds fun, what could go wrong?!

Fun to read, I really enjoyed it especially the authors note at the end.

This book is being marketed as a YA book, but it just does not feel like a YA novel. I am just not so sure that this is written in a way that teens will connect with.

Absolutely fantastic! The twists will keep you guessing all the way to the end!
The suspense is well built and the character development is superb. This will be one of my favorite horror/suspense books for a long time to come. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good ghost story!

It all starts with a house.

A compelling, insistent and unsettling mood permeates this novel as Spivey; a down-at-luck, alienated teenager suffering from Cancer, receives a house and an island in an unexpected inheritance from a grandmother he hardly knows. It is both a life-altering escape from his overbearing, grasping parents and a burden with a list of arcane and cryptic maintenance rules. Spivey’s best friend, Billy, watches him unravel trying to manage his new found freedom, which includes an almost cult-like teenage entourage, ready to take advantage of the libertarian ethos on the adult-free island. What starts off as typical teenage rebellion against authority, soon escalates into a terrifying and rapid downward spiral into anarchy and degradation. This is an immersive and jolting approach to the genre, with an impotent narrator helplessly witnessing his vulnerable friend being transformed by his embrace of the abyss. Iconic horror tropes are manipulated and repositioned with precise craft by the incisive and knowing pen of J.D. Barker. Definitely an incipient master of the craft. A must-read for any fan of the genre.