Thanks to Salt Publishing and NetGalley for the eArc.

A great debut! The book begins very atmospheric and I was waiting for ...something... the whole time but nothing happens, really. Things proceed calmly, but kind of claustrophobic at the same time? And then comes the twist in the last chapters. I did see it coming but that only made it a "HA!" kind of thing, not a disappointment.
I personally connected with the secondary friendship story on a very personal level. As the intentionally childfree friend this mirrored a lot of my own experience and I thought it was a nice tie in with the main story. I liked how the memories were interwoven and connected to what was happening in the present time, it all made sense in the end.
I also really enjoyed the gentle writing, the way that everything was made clear to me without describing it too much. A very enjoyable read for me, a nice modern gothic story.

Thank you Net Galley and Salt Publishing for the ARC and the chance to review!

Let me start off by saying that this book was market at least to me as horror and that to me is a misstep. I think I would have enjoyed it far more if I wasn’t waiting for the shoe to drop so to speak.

Ellen is a young(ish) woman who ghost writes the lives of her clients. In a way this mirror the way that she seem to be almost ghost writing her own life.

She’s on the cusp of many things, the women around her are staring to have children and shes not ready for that step in fact she might never be ready for that step but its clear that she at least to some existent resents the expectation of her to be a mother.

She’s not old yet and yet she feels her youth slipping away from her, reminiscing about the time she had with the mysterious YOU she seems almost to be writing this narrative for.

When shes contracted to write the biography of the mysterious Miss Carey int the sprawling Enver House Ellen is forced to dwell in a state of uncertainty. Miss Carey is mysterious and something is simply off.

What starts off as a memory laps reveals itself to be a gothic setting not only of house and home but also of memory, soul and body.

I enjoyed the gothic setting quite a bit. The decaying house, the possibility of ghosts past and present all made an enthralling backdrop for Ellen to explore.

Ellen herself was quite sad character. Both easy to root for, as a person in a similar life state and hard because the way she spoke of her loved one going through motherhood while raw and often and under represented perspective felt a bit resentful in a way that I personally didn’t love.

The twist unfortunately reveals itself self pretty early on, so if twist are important for you that might be a bit of a let down. I for one do not like a twist so it didn’t much matter to me.

I wish most of all that the Eels had more of a pay off. That they were sinister or more mysterious or housed the dead or something.

A fairly long book for how little happens but with beautiful prose and an emotional resonance.

I really enjoyed this book.
I’ve not read a good decent horror for a while.

I did not expect the twist coming at all although I had a feeling there will be something coming to light, I didn’t expect it to be what it was.

At times I was reading this in the dark and I can feel the goosebumps from the creepiness.

I thought this book was very well written and as much as i felt it was a good horror novel I liked the fact it also dipped into real life absences happening in friendships and the reality of how motherhood can change people and their friendships.

I was a little confused at times with the flashbacks to her friendship but it all came together at the end.

If I had to sum up this book in one word it would be: unsettling. We follow Ellen who is a ghost writer for people's memoirs (what a great idea for a service!). She is commissioned to write one for a woman, Ms Catherine Carey in a very small, very isolated town. She arrives to an empty mansion and things only get creepier from there. I really enjoyed the dual storylines though I was not sure what one had to do with the other until about halfway through the book. The last 25% left me with an overwhelming sense of dread and goosebumps but I could not help reading ahead to find out what was happening. The way the ending wove the two stories together to get the authors message across was very well done. The only thing I would have wanted out of this was more eels haha

Zoe Apostolides’ The Homecoming is a haunting and atmospheric tale that explores the complexities of memory, family secrets, and the eerie pull of the past. Blending psychological suspense with a slow-burning sense of dread, Apostolides crafts a novel that is as emotionally gripping as it is unsettling.

At its core, The Homecoming is a story about returning—to places, to people, and to truths that refuse to stay buried. Apostolides excels at creating an immersive setting, where every shadowy corner and whispered conversation adds to the novel’s growing tension. The prose is elegant yet unsettling, drawing readers into a world where nostalgia and fear intertwine.

The novel’s strength lies in its character work. The protagonist’s journey is filled with doubt and revelation, making for an emotionally rich narrative that keeps the reader engaged. Apostolides carefully layers the story with psychological depth, ensuring that the mystery at its heart unfolds at just the right pace.

If there’s one drawback, it’s that the novel’s slow build may test the patience of those seeking fast-paced thrills. However, for readers who enjoy suspense that simmers before boiling over, The Homecoming delivers a rewarding and chilling experience.

With its evocative writing, rich character development, and an atmosphere thick with unease, The Homecoming cements Zoe Apostolides as a writer to watch. This is a novel that lingers, its ghosts—both literal and figurative—refusing to let go.

Oh wow, I loved this Gothic novel! I speed through this book. The writing in this book is wonderful and I enjoyed every minute of it. I also was very surprised about the ending.

Ellen, who works as a ghostwriter, is assigned to write Miss Carey’s memoirs at the request of the agency where she works. This leads her to Elver House, an old, almost grotesque mansion where Miss Carey, a woman with occasional lapses in her memory, lives. Isolated from the town, she resides in the past, carrying her memories with her. When the long-delayed interviews finally begin, it is revealed that Miss Carey’s life has been shadowed by the trauma of her childhood—her father's death and her mother's neglect—experiences that have stayed with her throughout her life.

Meanwhile, during her time at Elver House, Ellen encounters a series of mysterious events, although she is able to find explanations for most of them. However, when she returns home to transcribe the interviews, she realizes that all of the explanations she had gathered are actually invalid. From the beginning, the novel carries an air of ambiguity through Elver House and Miss Carey. These elements lend a mysterious quality to The Homecoming. Additionally, the sense of unease, reminiscent of a ghost story, is woven into the narrative through the mysteries surrounding Elver House.

The writing is good, with short chapters and easy-to-follow plot. The novel explores themes such as motherhood, the concept of family, loneliness, and the weight of the past.

The ending wasn’t much of a surprise for me, but then again, the author had already hinted at it, not offering little promise of a shocking end.

Thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for the #ARC .

While not a horror novel in my opinion, The Homecoming by Zoe Apostolides is a thoughtful novel of the place of women throughout the generations.

The premise itself was what caught me initially. A ghostwriter visits an aging woman's manor in the wilds of countryside England. She quickly finds that things are a little off. Rooms have been ransacked, the lady of the estate vanishes to walk the woods at night, and there are more than a few rumors about ghosts.

Here's what I loved:

The novel feels almost diary-like in its intimacy and thoughtfulness. The minutiae and the details of daily life are not spared. It's easy to visualize each scene.

A mystery bubbles right below the surfrace, and it's reveal, at least to me, was well done. I didn't anticipate it at all, though I see other reviewers did.

The environment, history, and symbolism is top-notch.

Where it suffers:

The book certainly lags at places. There are long stretches where not much is happening at all. It ties up nicely at the end, but I often found myself wanting to return to the house like many of the characters within the pages of this book. I wanted to pull apart the old woman, the long stretches between her girlhood and golden years. I wanted to tear open all the doors to see what lurked on the upper floor or see what was left in the crypt. So many nooks left hidden.

I really enjoyed reading The Homecoming by Zoë Apostolides. The book had a captivating storyline that kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters were well-developed and relatable, making it easy to connect with their experiences and emotions.
I appreciated the insightful exploration of family dynamics and the complexities of returning to one's roots. The writing style was descriptive and lyrical, painting vivid pictures of the landscapes and settings in which the story took place.
Overall, I would give this book 4 stars because while I found it engaging and thought-provoking, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit slow. Nonetheless, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a heartfelt and immersive read.

It was alright. Pretty atmospheric and captivating but i felt like the spooky elements could’ve been done better. With the cover and mention of eels, i was totally expecting the horror element to come from them and was disappointed when it didnt. It definitely left me wanting more. I couldnt care for ellen’s backstory ( that switch into second person was jarring and strange? It made the friendship felt almost romantic like what?)

Many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for supplying me with an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Upon reading the synopsis of this book, I thought that it was going to be suspenseful and mysterious. Unfortunately what I got was a lackluster read with a not so exciting twist that let me down. This book could have had 100 pages knocked off, it just seemed way too long. I did like the main character but she was we forgettable. Would I read another book by this author? Probably not, sorry to say

3 stars--I liked the book.

Ellen is a ghostwriter who is assigned to collect and write the memoirs of a woman living alone in a haunted English manor. I enjoyed the plot quite a bit, and thought the themes of motherhood--especially motherhood with daughters--was well done. However, overall I thought the book could have been a short story.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

Can't believe this is a debut! It's atmospheric, twisty, unsettling and slippery, with beautiful imagery and a claustrophobic sense of foreboding. Struggled to put it down; it gets its hooks in you from the get go and turns up the narrative heat so subtly you don't realise til it bubbles over. Absolutely exceptional writing. So grateful to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC; can't wait to see this book be released into the world.

Ellen is a ghostwriter (ding!) whose job it is to interview people and write up her notes in the form of of a memoir. These aren’t for general publication. She works mainly with ordinary people who want to produce something of interest to their families and friends.

Ellen’s current job is to travel to Elver House in Northumberland and, over a week, carry out a series of interviews with the elderly, mysterious, Catherine Carey.

Firstly, it didn’t feel at all like Northumberland (my home county) - the made up place names didn’t convince at all, they sounded like new-build housing estates- but clearly the author needed a rural county, distant from London.

Secondly, the ghost story, though nicely laid in was pretty predictable from even before Ellen reached Elver House, but that’s just the nature of the genre really. As soon as we know it’s a ghost story we’re thinking “one or more of these people are dead” - The Sixth Sense pretty much laid the template for how these things are done now, and the signs (M Night Shyamalan pun not intentional) are all there.

Most of us would have been calling a taxi home within hours of arrival, but again that’s not how these things work - the protagonist has to give every grave and horrifying occurrence the most innocent spin they can so the mystery can deepen.

The author delivers some imaginative and strongly visual chills with her writing, and I liked that women’s lives from different periods were contrasted and the degrees of progress (or lack of) discussed.

Clearly the women’s backgrounds, and therefore the expectations of their lives, were very different, but it was a good engine for the story, instead of a Scooby Doo-ish “revenge from beyond the grave” plot.

A very readable assemblage of classic ghost story beats, with some neat original touches and a genuine attempt to imbue the haunting with some relevance and resonance beyond mere spookiness.

*4.5 stars*

I cannot believe this book is a debut! The Homecoming has everything I love in a ghost story. The perfectly paced slow burn and creepy but beautiful atmosphere pulled me in from the first page, and reminded me of some of the classics of the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I hope to see more stories from this author in the future! I would recommend The Homecoming for readers who enjoy slow burn gothic books with emotional depth.

Thank you to NetGalley & Salt Publishing for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Salt Publishing for the advanced read!

I really enjoyed this atmospheric horror, perfect for readers like me who prefer a slower pace, small cast, and a reveal that will leave you unsettled but still able to sleep at night (probably 😅) I actually did not figure out the twist ahead of time which made the ending more fun for sure. The imagery of the elvers and all the facts we learn about them were fascinating. The subplot with Ellen’s friend didn’t weave into the story naturally for me until the very end so I would have liked to draw a more obvious connection between those memories and Ellen’s experiences at Elver House. However, I think this is a fantastic debut novel and I’d love to read more from this author in the future!

i don't know how to feel about this, i read through this super quickly but ended up dissatisfied & disappointed in the end.

the premise: Ellen has one simple job: spend five days at Elver House, record 20 hours of interviews with Miss Carey, then head home to London and ghostwrite her memoirs. easy enough, right? trading the comfort of her flat for the quiet village of Conger Brook, Ellen expects a cozy cottage, a charming elderly woman, and a straightforward assignment. instead, nothing goes as planned. the house looms at the village’s edge, the weather turns ominous, and there’s no phone signal—just one red flag after another. but she pushes forward, determined to do her job. yet, as she unearths Miss Carey’s past, Ellen starts to wonder: is she the one uncovering the story, or is the story closing in on her?

the setting was claustrophobic and eerie, with a creeping sense of wrongness that won’t let go. it feels slow at first like it’s taking its time but before I know it, the plot has wrapped itself around me, tightening with every page. BUT this one was pretty predictable, and i kept getting stuck on Ellen's reflections about her childhood friend. that whole subplot—how their friendship faded after marriage and motherhood—felt underdeveloped and didn’t really go anywhere it felt like a filler and it takes away from the plot. and bringing up Ellen's mom and her complicated relationship with her (NOT NECESSARY) i get that it might’ve been tying into themes of isolation or even the mother-daughter dynamic with Miss Carey, but it didn’t add much to the overall story. it felt like an idea that never fully landed.

then again. i finished the book in under two days, so it wasn’t a waste of time, but it left me wanting more. thank you Salt Publishing for trusting me to read the book and give my honest thoughts about it. maybe it just wasn't for me.

3.5 stars

Ellen is contracted to stay with Miss Carey for 5 days and obtain 20 hours of interviews. After collecting the recordings, Ellen will go home and ghost-write Miss Carey’s memoirs. Easy peasy, right? Ellen trades the comfort of her London for flat for the small village of Conger Brook with Elver House being on the outskirts of the village. She pictures a sweet little old lady, a cute little cottage to hole up in, and of course, nothing meets her expectations. Ellen ignores all the red flags screaming at her, including: ominous weather, nothing going according to plan, no service; all leads to something being afoot, right? As Ellen delves into Miss Carey’s past, are things as they seem?
This one was a bit predictable. I found myself confused by the narrator’s reflections on her childhood friend that she’d grown apart from, that whole line of the plot was not adequately resolved or thoroughly explained. Overall, I don’t think it was a waste of time and read it under 2 days’ time.
#ThxNetGalley #ZoeApostolides

A moody, damp, dark, gothic, feminist tale and with eels for flavor. (I kind of wish there had been more eels to be honest.)

The writing style is perfect for the tone of the book, descriptive and thoughtful. I will be thinking about this book for a while.

4.5 stars. I clocked what was going on about half way. I think it took me longer to figure out why we were getting the flashbacks about her friend than to figure out the main plot. Then it all weaves together. It isn’t going to be for everyone. If you are looking for a scary story to tell in the dark this isn’t for you. But it you are looking for an eerie brooding tale of the inner lives of women (one where there are eels), you will feel at home in this story.

Thanks to Salt Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC of 'The Homecoming' by Zoë Apostolides.

This is essentially a haunted house, Gothic tale in which a ghostwriter - Ellen - is sent to capture the voice of an elderly woman in a crumbling great house in order to create her memoirs.

The atmosphere is very well captured - pathetic fallacy in all its glory. Ellen encounters many odd occurrences as she navigates to and around the physical house, Elver, and in and around the life of her subject, Catherine Carey and the author keeps us on edge and maintains that Gothic chill throughout, very well done.

There's a whole thread that I didn't get where Ellen is recounting her dwindling relationship with a close friend due to that friend's marriage and motherhood. Maybe it ties in with the theme of isolation? Or motherhood since the relationship between Catherine Carey and her mother is examined? In any case, I didn't think it added too much to the overall story.