This was a creepy horror story with a wonderful atmosphere that really set me on edge. When reading this I was sat by a pool in Italy in bright sunshine and this book still managed to give me a chill. I think the lyrical writing and the creepiness of the house, and it's characterisation right from the very beginning was wonderful. I did find at points that the pacing was a little slow with a little bit of filler towards the middle. However I agree with a lot of people that the ending lacked the punch it tried to deliver, I don't have an issue necessarily with the twist that was chosen (not my favourite, and at points a little confusing) but I felt we spend so little time on the whole thing that it wasn't worth the twist. Personally I feel we either needed to spend longer on this choice, or go for a different twist altogether. It made the ending feel both chaotic and underwhelming at the same time.

Sarah Gailey’s recent pivot from alt history to off-kilter, sharp-edged thrillers driven by intimate personal drama has converted me from a passive admirer to an ardent fan. Where The Echo Wife examined toxic marriages and the stupidity of cloning your ex-wife, Just Like Home tackles toxic families and trauma and the way these shape who we are - and who we want to be.

The narrative alternates between Vera’s cutting interactions with her dying mother Daphne in the present and her rose-tinted memories of childhood when her father was still around. Where her mother shows her nothing but bitterness and cruelty, her father always had love and approval - until Vera screwed everything up. Her guilt is as deep as her loneliness. While I feel a little daft tiptoeing around a spoiler that’s in the blurb, I loved the way Gailey layered my creeping unease by avoiding direct references to the sins that have dogged Vera’s adult life. Everyone except the reader knows what happened at the Crowder house. I heartily recommend skipping that blurb and following in young Vera’s footsteps to discover the truth with her (and scream over her shoulder, even when she doesn’t).

When strange things start happening to Vera as she cleans the house to prepare it for sale, they are sufficiently ambiguous that multiple rational explanations offer themselves up. Just how far is the creepy artist who wants to ‘channel the house’s energies into his work’ willing to go? Just how reliable a narrator is Vera?

There’s a lot packaged up in this fraught, desperately unpleasant tale, but Gailey pulls it together with aplomb. Here horror is reframed as the background tenor of a life, love and respect as something you long for from monsters - and feel for them in return. My biggest question throughout was just how many monsters lived in the Crowder house.

Just Like Home is not a redemptive tale. It’s a dark, cracked mirror held up to the societal ideal of happy childhoods and uncomplicated feelings about family. It’s uncomfortable and painful and walks the tightrope of helping the reader understands the characters’ terrible choices, even if not all readers will be able to empathise with them. The result is excellent, tense and unsettling from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Gailey and the publisher for providing me with an EARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was horrifically dark and wonderful and I loved it! Right when I thought I understood what had happened, there were more plot twists. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was that it was a bit too slow-paced for me.

I’m a huge Sarah Gailey fan, so I knew I had to read this ASAP. All I really knew going into this book was that it was a horror-thriller written by an author I love – and that was the best way to experience this book.The audiobook, narrated by Xe Sands, is a fantastic experience and had me feeling genuinely freaked out at several points. The majority of this book tends more towards domestic thriller than outright horror, with the horror kicking in near the end, but I loved that. As a fan of both genres, I loved how well the tropes of each genre were balanced in this story, creating an intense thriller with an emotional twist.

I can’t get too specific without spoilers, and this book is definitely best experienced unspoiled, but even though I started to guess parts of the twist early on, it still managed to shock me in ways that had me rewinding the audiobook to relisten – just to make sure I’d heard right. This was one of those books for me where as soon as I put it down, I realised it was a new favourite for sure. It’s rare that a book is atmospheric enough to make me feel genuinely unnerved when I read, but when my dog walked behind me halfway through this book, I jumped out of my skin. Sarah Gailey’s writing is spectacular, especially in these character-driven stories, and I really hope that they write more horror/thrillers because I adored this and I loved The Echo Wife too.

I absolutely loved Vera as a main character, which in a thriller like this is really important. It was deeply character driven, following her past and present as the story of her serial killer father and her relationship with him unfolds. We discover her loving father and her volatile mother all at once, and I like the way that we see that parallel and the complexities of those relationships in both the past and present sections of the story. Hints are dropped the whole way through about some action in Vera’s past that she’s keeping secret, and I loved putting those pieces together like a complex, horrifying jigsaw. If you like gothic horror or domestic thrillers, this is an absolute must-read.

“It was the right thing to do, giving up that little bit of hope. It was the only thing to do. Some things, Vera knew, were made to die.”

Publisher: Tor Books

Release date: 19th Jul 2022

Pages: 352

Representation: Lesbian MC.

Trigger warnings: Parental death, OCD, Alzheimer’s mention, murder, kidnapping, torture, hallucinations, child abuse, violence, terminal illness, body horror, gore, blood, sexual harrassment

Summary: It was never going to be easy coming back to the house her father built. Now Vera’s home to say goodbye to her estranged mother, and she’s about to learn the horrors this house holds didn’t leave when her father did. There’s years of secrets and blood built into the foundations of Crowder house, and they won’t stay hidden much longer.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Four?

Just Like Home whispers to us in the dark, making sure that it haunts even our quietest moments in the best way.

I had no idea what to expect of this book going in, and that made it all the more intriguing. We think we know what’s going on, and we’re rooting for the right person to win, but then the truth comes along and hits us in the face. It keeps dragging us one way, and then another, until we’re left wondering who the bad guy really is.

There were moments of internal monologue that were extremely slow, and definitely diluted my enjoyment. Yet there were other moments where the internal monologue created the perfect atmosphere, opening a door into the parts of Vera’s mind that we didn’t want to listen to. This made the story enjoyable enough that I didn’t want to stop reading, and I think it was the perfect narrative for telling Vera’s story. No other writing style would have told the story as well, and would have left behind some of the nuanced horrors we hear.

I loved the fact we never got to meet Vera's father. It showed us him through her memories-through her nostalgia, doubts and love. It added to the suspense, and showed us the difference an unreliable narrator can make.

The other characters were neither likeable nor dislikeable-they were there, and they served their purpose. This wasn’t a terrible thing, as it really drove home exactly how Vera interacts with the world and those around her. It was a way of writing and characterisation that I wouldn't have usually liked, but for this book it worked.

Overall It’s a disturbing adventure, and a story that I would love to see made into a horror movie. I’ve never read any of Gailey's books before, but if this was anything to go by, I’ll be on the lookout for her name when I next go to the bookstore.

Its shining glory: The writing is something I’ve never seen before; it holds secrets just like the characters do, and before we realise what’s going on it has us hooked and we can’t get out.

Its fatal flaw: The final plot-twist feels a little disjointed from the rest of the story. It was unexpected, but in a way I didn’t entirely appreciate.

Read this if: You like psychological horror that will always have you wondering what happens next.

Skip this if: You don’t like books that get into your head, or with bottle-locations (meaning the book primarily takes place in one location.) You prefer plot-driven books.

In spite of its gorgeous cover, what made me want to pick up Just Like Home were both the premise of the classic horror trope of coming back home, complicated family relations, and buried secrets; plus the comparison with The Haunting of Hill House. More often than not these type of comparisons tend to fall short and leave me feeling lead on, but in this case I can see it in the book, although this story its its own thing, but its a rare ocasion where I appreciate this market promp.

This is a book about flawed, complex, and fckd-up characters. I love these types of characters, and there was such an eeriness about the ones here, from Vera Crowder, our main character who is summoned back home by her dying mother, a woman with trauma in her past and very conflicting emotions about her parents, especially her mother, Daphne. I love reading about these difficult, estranged, family relations, and I love reading books about motherhood as well, and when they touch on horror then that's my cup of tea. This book is not particularly about motherhood per se, but it is about a very abusive and controlling mother, and the mother-daughter relationship is very explored in here, as well as the father-daughter, and each have their own problematics, and I just enjoyed all of it so much. Having flashback chapters also was incredible to give depth and to understand how these characters interacted in the past, and what made them who they are in the present. If the book were only about that it would already have been a huge hit, but there was even more.

Some books call themselves horror without actually having any horror in it (trust me, I've read a few this year). Some books call themselves horror and they have one or two things that are well, horrific/scary/unsettling and that's great. There are different types to do horror and for a good horror book to build upon. And then there is Just Like Home. This book was absolutely horrifying. I couldn't read this at night. I had to read it in the summer afternoon sun, the whole room flooded with light and the birds tweeting outside. This is a very sensorial read, it has strong imagery and descriptions that just make you cringe in disgust, gasp and shudder. It fits the body horror category in more than one way. Although it does have its bit of gore, there isn't that much blood, but more of other.... stuff. I won't go into details, but smells, vision, hearing, all play a strong part in the descriptions and damn if Sarah Gailey doesn't write well, the atmosphere is all there and it works so well. You also have paranormal elements in here so if that's not your thing you might want to skip this one, but for me I was sold.

The writing is strong from the start. This was the type of book that I was drawn in from the very first chapter and I knew I was going to love it. There were so many scenes where I was just actually scared and like shrieking in both excitement and horror at the same time at the scenes I was reading. I was surprised multiple times, and the finale was absolutely incredible. I wanted to do a standing ovation and applaud. This is exactly the type of horror stuff I like. I was a bit worried because I saw many reviews saying the first part was stronger than the second, and that people disliked the ending, but thankfully this was just a masterpiece to me.

I was already loving the book but because of the ending it really ended up becoming a favorite. I recommend this one to those searching for a good horror book, strong sensory and imagery descriptions, good scares and complex characters and dynamics. Truly this book has it all.

Just Like Home

Vera mother is dying so she returns to the family home to clear things out ready to sell the house. Things are not that simple though when your mother doesn't like you. Your father is a serial killer and your house seems to be haunted.

This book definitely delivered on the Creepy Vibes! I did have fun reading it. I did find it a bit slow in parts and the ending wasn't at all what I was expected and was a little on the bizarre side but overall not a bad read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder and Stoughton and Sarah Gailey for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest Review

The story was not what I was expecting. Interesting haunting story.
Characters were well done and the atmosphere creepy at times. it lost me in plot, intrigue and logic on Vera's and James' part a bit.
Overall a good haunting house story.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This fell a little flat for me, which is a shame because the writing was gorgeous but the plot was too long winded and drawn out. I thought that there were some suitably creepy moments, but they were few and far between and I honestly think that this would have worked better as a novella. I loved the setting and the premise was interesting, with a particularly fascinating relationship between Vera and her mother. I thought that James Duvall was fairly one dimensional and didn't add a great deal to the story overall. As I say, had this been a novella focused on the toxic relationship between the two women, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more, but as it is, it just felt too long.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The thing with Sarah Gailey books if you have absolutely no idea what you’re going to get but you just know it’s going to be brilliant. I honestly don’t know where she comes up with her ideas because each book is something completely new and original, and always something from the darkest corner of your mind. Just Like Home is about monsters. Monsters in your house and monsters in your mind. Horrifying and spectacular.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with an ARC of this book. When I opened Just Like Home I thought I knew what I was getting into, I was expecting a novel in which a young woman returns to a site of childhood trauma to confront the metaphorical monsters of her past. I was technically right if by 'confront' you mean 'embrace' and by 'metaphorical' you mean 'completely fucking real'. This book was twisted, horrifying and full of unexpected magical realism. I'm not sure I enjoyed it per se but if you love a creepy family horror story then you should definitely check this out.

That was...freaky. Seriously f***ing freaky.
I honestly don't think I've ever read anything quite like this before and I might never sleep again but I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review

I struggled to get into this book I'm not sure what it was that stopped me really liking it but it felt like it had a few repetitive phrases that started to annoy me so led to me not enjoying this as much as I would of liked. Thank you to netgalley for this ARC.

For fans of The Haunting of Hill House and Paranormal Activity - Gailey has written the perfect horror thriller.

The dual timeline narrative works perfectly here. Gailey's writing is crisp and vivid, slipping down like syrup. I devoured this in a matter of hours.

For me, the definition of a five star read. If this isn't a sensation, there is no justice.

This was such an interesting read and very well written. This book follows Vera who returns to her childhood home after her mother, Daphne, calls and asks for help as she is dying. Daphne however has a sickness that spreads deeper than medical problems.

Vera’s father is a convicted serial killer who murdered his victims in the basement of their family home. Francis had built this home solely for this purpose, a creation that was perfect for his missions. However, hat he doesn’t realise is the impact both the house and the killings has upon Vera. You are taken through a few flashbacks to Vera at the age of thirteen and it’s during this time where you start to see a shift in her personality.

I found this a really interesting read but I was disappointed by the ending and the way the storyline pans out. I didn’t really enjoy the supernatural aspects to the story and found it would have been far better if it had focused more upon the psychological thriller aspects. However as a thriller and potential supernatural horror it was a fun and exciting read. I would recommend this for someone who enjoys creepy and surreal psychological thrillers.

Just like home is a story that will crawl under your skin and stay there for a long time

great read and story, I very much enjoyed this

This book is weird, but in the best possible way and after finishing it, I was finding it hard to form my thoughts about it but all I know is that I really enjoyed the read so here is my attempt to articulate what I thought about it.

The pacing of this book is quite slow but it’s also very steady, unlike many thrillers which have you rushing through certain chapters, I found this to be one long suspense filled read, and it definitely made it hard to put down. The concept is really intriguing too, and all the characters felt unique. Vera as a narrator was good, and without giving too much away, I love the direction the plot takes and how it affects how you view Vera.

Overall I really enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend to others, especially as we start approaching the spooky season!

Creepy and engaging! I absolutely love horror stories centered around women, told by women, and this was great. Had me on the edge of my seat!

A seriously creepy book. I loved the build up and was genuinely spooked by the end of the novel. This is the first book by Sarah Gailey I have read and I’m definitely going to check out her other titles.