eh, a whole lot of nothing. i enjoyed it until midway and then blah. i feel like if this was a fleshed out novel it would have been better.

Greer Hendricks' "The Sublet" arrived with a promisingly unsettling premise, one that immediately grabbed my attention: a woman subletting her apartment and finding herself entangled in the strange, almost obsessive world of her new tenant. The initial chapters excelled at creating that palpable sense of unease, a creeping dread that clung to the pages and made me eager to uncover the secrets lurking within the apartment's walls. Hendricks has a talent for crafting a claustrophobic atmosphere, and the apartment itself became a character, adding layers of tension to the narrative.
However, as the story progressed, the initial promise began to wane. The characters, while possessing intriguing quirks, felt somewhat underdeveloped, their motivations shrouded in a frustrating ambiguity. I found myself struggling to connect with them on a deeper level, which hindered my investment in the unfolding drama. The plot, initially taut and suspenseful, began to meander, losing its focus and leaving me with a sense of disorientation. I kept waiting for a pivotal moment, a revelation that would illuminate the characters' actions and unravel the mysteries, but that moment never quite materialized.
And then there was the ending. Oh, the ending. It felt rushed, abrupt, and ultimately unsatisfying. Instead of providing closure, it left me with a barrage of unanswered questions, a sense of incompleteness that lingered long after I finished the final page. I understand the power of ambiguity in thrillers, but in this instance, it felt more like a collection of loose threads left dangling, a narrative that failed to deliver on its initial promise. The lack of resolution felt genuinely disappointing, leaving me with a sense of frustration rather than the satisfying thrill I had anticipated.
Ultimately, "The Sublet" is a mixed bag. It offers moments of genuine suspense and a chilling atmosphere, but its underdeveloped characters, meandering plot, and frustratingly ambiguous ending prevent it from reaching its full potential. It's a solid 3-star read, a decent enough thriller for a rainy afternoon, but one that ultimately left me feeling more bewildered than thrilled. While I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys atmospheric thrillers, be prepared to be left with more questions than answers.

Ghostwriter Anne is struggling to keep everything together as she navigates marital troubles, twins, and her career, all in a tiny Manhattan apartment. When she receives an opportunity to ghostwrite for motivational guru Melody Wells, she accepts. But working long days for Melody creates even more stress for Anne— until Melody recommends a sublet on the East River with spacious closets and the writing space of Anne’s dreams. But as unsettling incidents begin to occur left and right, Anne’s dream threatens to become a nightmare.

Y’all, I have never been so confused by a story in my entire life. I didn't dislike it, really I didn’t. However, I honestly have very little idea what happened in this fever dream of a short story, despite listening multiple times. Perhaps that is, in fact, the point? Unclear. What is clear is that every time I thought I had it, I in fact, did not have it, which led to questions galore and an overall sense of frustration. I would probably suggest reading this one with your eyes, not your ears, as I did.

Read if you like:
▪️bite-sized thrillers
▪️books about books
▪️NYC setting
▪️horror-lite stories
▪️fever dreams

Thank you, Brilliance Publishing, for the advanced copy.

the setup…
Anne is a married mother of nine-year old twins living in a tiny Manhattan apartment. She’s a ghostwriter who has dreams of becoming a writer but with all her responsibilities it feels elusive. That is until she’s hired by Melody Wells to ghostwrite her new motivational book. Melody is a mist of serenity and pixie dust, sprinkling her wisdom and luring Anne further into her world, even facilitating her move into a spacious Upper East side sublet. Anne can’t believe her good fortune until weird things start to happen.

the heart of the story…
You know that saying about if it seems too good to be true it probably is. It starts early for Anne and she’s smart enough (more than I gave her credit for) to look under the mattresses. All the while trying to work on Melody’s book without a lot of substantive input from the woman.

the narration…
Karissa Vacker was excellent in her storytelling and voice distinctions, especially for Melody. I could visualize that pixie dust.

the bottom line…
I thought I knew where this story was going until I didn’t and was dealt a clever little ending. It’s subtle enough that I needed to rewind it and hear it again. It’s a short story that had me nervous but then made me smile.