I love creepy, kind of gothic mysteries and this one came along right at the perfect time for me to finish it for the spooky season.

Rachel's life is turned upside down when her mom decided to move them into her new boyfriend's spooky, possibly haunted house. The only issue is that Rachel is the only one who seems to be affected by the house and it's ghostly inhabitants.

Geoff, the mom's boyfriend, is overbearing and certainly oversteps his bounds when it comes to the way he speaks to Rachel and that's one of my biggest issues with him as a character. I was not remotely sad when certain situations happened. (No spoilers here). I do wish the author had written him in a more compassionate sort of way, I think it could have been a more powerful story had the reader seen him to be a bit more understanding or have a bit more empathy towards him.

I would have also loved to have the mystery been woven in a bit more. I think the author wanted us, the reader, to be pointed in a certain direction when it came to what was happening in the story, but I don't know if I was fully on board with the way it was laid out for us. I wanted more creepy and more spooky but I overall, it was a YA romancy spooky story. I love a good haunted house, with lingering souls and creepy basements. It's a quick read and can be read in about 2 or 3 sittings. It's not a heavy read so if this sounds up your alley, I hope you'll find it as entertaining as I did.

I’m new to the YA horror, or horror genre in general but I feel like this is what a YA horror should be? The author does a great job writing a 16 year old character who has some edge. She’s the appropriate amount of immature and feisty for her age but not annoying. The book itself was creepy, suspenseful, and thrilling- especially at the end. It was fast-paced, easy to read, and I loved the incorporation of the supernatural, as I learn that not all horror books actually do involve that! I’d definitely read another one of this authors books.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love spooky, haunted houses. I love dumb teenagers who are figuring themselves out and have smart moments when it matters. I love dark forces that won't tell you what they want until it's almost too late.

The writing I thought was a perfect fit for the story that was told. You've got a teenager stuck in creepy old house that seems to have as many issues with her as she has with her mom's boyfriend, who is seemingly the Worst Person Ever. There's nightmarish and unknown things happening in the house, and our FMC Rachel is trying to figure what is going on. Is Geoff hiding something? Why doesn't her mom believe her? Who is the mysterious boy in town? Why oh why does the house seem to want her dead??? We get put right in the middle of all the horrific drama with every paragraph.

I had a teeny issue with how late in the game the title came into play in the story. Yes, it adds to the mystery, but one thing that always keeps me thinking about a book while I read is why it's been given its name, you know?

An enjoyable YA gothic horror story that is sure to keep you up late reading, just to know what happens next.

After reading 40 % I realized that I also have the novel "Tidepool" by this author. After not quite finishing "The Keeper of the Key" I don't know yet if I still want to read the other book.

The start of the book was great: instantly there was atmosphere and pressure from the outside that made the hauntings possible. and the hauntings are the best part of the book.

Otherwise I was pretty fast disappointed because the characters are quite one dimensional and seemed to be like the simplest stereotypes possible. And I hated how every conflict was resolved with running away and talking afterwards after the emotions in every person were heated. The protagonist learned nothing except that having a boyfriend is cool, you don't have to know anything about him and being constantly horny is normal. But it isn't and I really dislike this steady representation of teenagers that want to get sexual because being active is the only thing you can think about.

So after 71 % I dnf'd the book even as I would like to have liked to read some more atmospheric scenes.

I really liked this one! It kept me up and scared the shit out of me (I shouldn't have read it at 11 pm ..). I had to sit and calm down before finishing it, I was truly on edge. I sort of had my suspicions about the big bad, however, I did not see the twist coming, nor did I see it coming as to the context of who the big bad was in relativity to the storyline, so it was kind of cool to see a twist like that! I really enjoyed the writing style too. Perfect for spooky season for sure.

This book is the perfect YA introduction to the gothic horror genre. The atmospheric Morgan House and the new family dynamics are well written by Wilson.
An engaging, spooky read that you will speed through and enjoy.
Thanks to Parliment House and Netgalley for the ARC.

"There are a thousand things sixteen-year-old Rachel would rather do than upend her life to move into Morgan House, an old, run-down mansion owned by her mom's boyfriend, Geoff.

But when her mother announces they're relocating to St. Mary, Virginia to live with him, Rachel's cut off from her friends and life as she knows it. St. Mary is a remote, lonely place, and the best thing about it is Nick, a guy she knows is worth keeping when he takes her to a cemetery on their first date.

Rachel struggles to get along with Geoff and his mile-long list of annoying house rules - in particular, his bizarre insistence that she stay out of the basement. But something in Morgan House plays by its own rules. At night, an unknown force pulls Rachel down to that forbidden cellar, showing her harrowing visions of a strangely familiar man lurking in the shadows. When a sudden tragedy strikes her family, those visions become more frequent-and more violent.

The dead issue urgent warnings, and if Rachel doesn't heed them, she'll become part of Morgan House forever.

From the author of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Tidepool comes a chilling new Gothic horror novel that will sink into your bones."

Never trust the boyfriends of mothers who own haunted houses.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

It was an interesting read, for several hours, I wanted to experience the story in one go, and I didn't regret it, but something was missing, maybe I didn't fully understand the characters, or the beginning of the book seemed more boring than the rest of the book.

The Keeper of the Key is an atmospheric YA horror. The gothic mansion setting in a small-town was haunting and beautifully described. We follow the FMC who is a teenager and I felt experiencing the story via this point of view was well done. There are some family dynamics at play that felt realistic and helped to drive the narrative forward. Although slightly predictable overall there are some great moments of horror and peril. Definitely making this a darker YA read. I found it captivating and couldn’t put it down and definitely felt satisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

THE KEEPER OF THE KEY by Nicole Willson

Sixteen year old Rachel is not a fan of her mom’s obnoxious and overbearing boyfriend, Geoff. When she and her mom move into his creepy mansion in Virginia, odd things start to happen that make it seem like Geoff is hiding something from them.

Rachel thinks her mom is moving too fast yet she’s already into the first (toxic, shady) guy she meets in this new town. She didn’t even know his last name or where he lived before she hooked up with him!

I breezed through this ARC in a day. The fast paced story drew me in with its easy prose and short chapters. However, the characters felt one dimensional (except for Gram, she was great) and the plot was predictable.

Overall, a quick (YA) gothic horror that’s light in the horror. A good choice for someone who’s just getting into horror. I liked it, but didn’t love it.


Rating: 3/5 ⭐️

**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & ParliamentBooks

"The Keeper of the Key" by Nicole Willson is an exhilarating journey that captivates from the very first page. Willson’s vivid descriptions ignite the imagination, allowing readers to deeply connect with Rachel's experiences. The suspenseful moments, particularly in the eerie basement of the Morgan House, had me holding my breath, caught in a thrilling blend of curiosity and fear. With its fast-paced narrative and engaging plot twists, this book is perfect for those venturing into the realm of thrillers and mysteries, offering a gateway to an ultimate reading adventure.

a pretty nice YA spooky house horror, would be great to get teens into it. The protagonist is at times selfish and awkward, but that comes together to portray a very realistic person in a shockingly real way. The stepfather and mother also felt pretty real and straightforward. 4 stars. Tysm for the arc.

4.5 rounded up.
Creepy and well-paced, and I really liked the main character.

Energy: Assertive. Intuitive. Compassionate.

🐕 Howls: The writing leans to the younger side of YA (the tone, not the topics!), but it still worked for me. The very end was a little predictable, but that’s probably because I’m an adult reading a YA book 🤓.

🐩 Tail Wags: Relatable main character and feeling how horrifying her life situation has become. The insufferable stepdad character. Mix of creepy paranormal elements and real-life horrors. The spooks. The pacing. How Rachel sticks up for herself. Subtle but powerful commentary on how women’s fears and anxieties are often brushed off as overreactions. Commentary naturally woven through the story. Darker moments I was not expecting.

Scene: 🇺🇸 Old Victorian-style home near the town of St Marys, Virginia, USA
Perspective: A 3rd year high school student spending the summer break adjusting to life in their new stepparent’s home after their bioparent’s whirlwind romance.
Timeline: Current (2010s or 2020s). Over the summer break from school.
🔥 Fuel: The romance, the family life, the home invasion, the basement visions, the missing girls, the situation with geoffs past and the houses past.
📖 Cred: Supernatural/paranormal realism

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Thai restaurant. Furniture polish. Must. Cozy bookstore. Creepy basement. Black hair dye. Cemeteries. Coffee.
• My house my rules stepparent
• Moving to an old Victorian mansion
• Main character you can root for
• Touch of missing teens mystery
• Bookstore meet-cute
• First love romance
• Imperfect parents
• Gothic coming-of-age
• Ghostly visions and vengeance
• First person narrator sharing their thoughts and observations
• Hints of supernatural and magical realism

Content Heads-Up: Loss of parent (as toddler; child; preteen). Body shaming (appearance, hair dye, style). Blood, death. Alcohol (underage; provided by adult). Dietary shaming (vegetarian). Home invasion, gun violence (brief, on page). Murder. Night terrors, sleepwalking. Sexual content (consenting; make out, first time, birth control; on page). Infidelity (recall). Abusive relationship (physical assault, obsession, stalking). Confinement. Fire (building).

Rep: American. Hispanic or Latin American peripheral character. Cis. Hetero. Pale and dark skin tones.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from BooksGoSocial, Parliament House Press, and NetGalley

i received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review, given of my own free will

this was a very nice read after having read a lot of heavier and length books in a row. however, one of my biggest peeves with YA horror novels is the wednesday addams effect. the second a female MC refers to herself as wednesday addams in any form (whether she says she’s like her or someone else does) i groan. every time im met with the same type of character, and every time i am more and more annoyed by her existence as i read. i don’t know why this ‘trope’ is just SO common in YA horror but its been all i’ve seen lately. that made this very hard to read as i wasn’t entirely rooting for rachel. i was in the back of my mind, but it was harder and harder. however, this was a nice palate cleanse for me to clear my head a bit. however, one thing that was not brought up and definitely needed to, <spoiler>the fact that there was a HUGE age gap relationship, arguably pedofilic given everything. </spoiler> why was this never discussed?? huge red flag when something like that happens and it’s not seen as an issue
additionally, the title is pretty damn misleading. it’s not brought up until the very, very end of the book, and even then very briefly?? it makes the audience think rachel will be the keeper or something. i think there could’ve been a lot better titles that tied to the true plot better

As far as YA horrors go, this is pretty scary. There's a creepy house, a new family dynamic that's ultra tense, a new town, and a boy that's...a bit off. The romance between Rachel and Nick is pretty cringe. It could be their age or the speed with which they get close--not sure. The spooky stuff keeps happening at the house and family secrets are revealed--the hits just keep coming! Very intense, very scary. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Rachel is a sixteen year old girl who is not the biggest fan of her mums new boyfriend and so you can imagine how she feels when she’s told they will be moving in with him. Not only is she unhappy about living with Geoff who she believes to be fake and overbearing but she’s being uprooted to a creepy old house in the middle of nowhere. The only good part of this new town (other than the local bookstore) is Nick, a mysterious loner who captures her attention. Things aren’t going that great with this new situation but Rachel is trying her best, that is.. until the nightmares start.

This book really captured my attention straight away, there are so many different characters that add depth, Rachel and her stepfather are so at odds with one another it creates a feeling of confidence as you feel you can predict where the story is headed. I guarantee you are wrong! The atmosphere was so well done, it really helped create a creepy feeling. I liked the addition of Nick as it unbalances the story, he is a mystery to us. The family was also really nice to read about, she has an amazing relationship with her mother and grandmother in particular, this helped lighten it slightly and add some humour to an otherwise completely spooky read.

I think this would be such a great horror film, the setting is a gothic and very creepy old house in the middle of the woods for a start. Then we have an unpredictable storyline, cute boys, cemetery dates and dark spirits dragging Rachel to the basement in the middle of the night. Fun right?!

What seems like a straightforward horror plot where you think you know the answer turns into something entirely different and the real cause of the horror will have you shocked. I had a great time reading this and I would definitely recommend this!

This was a great YA horror. I liked our main character Rachel a lot, and she felt real and well-rounded. I liked that she was goth, too. The house itself was so creepy, but even worse was her stepfather Geoff. I'm impressed with how unlikeable Willson managed to make him. The big reveal at the end was a complete surprise.

2.5 stars rounded up.

While the book itself didn't quite end up being my cup of tea, I really enjoyed the writing of this creepy little gothic YA story. It was a quick, engaging read that I finished in no time. The horror scenes were by far my favourite thing about this book - they are really well done and genuinely creeped me out - I wish there were more of them!

The characters and their decisions are frequently frustrating, including our main 16-year-old protagonist Rachel. I was rooting for her while also finding myself irritated at just how naive she was. But then, I remember being 16.

There are some twisty-turns in this one, which I was able to guess early on, but the lead-up may be fun and engaging for someone newer to the genre. I didn't enjoy any aspect of the romance and wonder if it might be bordering on a touch too explicit for a teen title, but I know there are varying opinions on this.

I wish the writing had been more descriptive as well - a story like this deserves some gothic atmospheric vibes in the locations where we spend the most time. Unfortunately, I was really left wanting when it came to the setting and world-building, even for the Morgan House itself.

The story and writing are engaging, with some great horror imagery woven throughout. This book may be great for a teen just dipping their toes into the gothic horror genre!

Thanks to Parliament House Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Keeper of the Key is due to release November 12, 2024.

Well this was the perfect book to read in October. Has all the spooky vibes.

Rachel’s mom announces over dinner that her new boyfriend wants them to move into his creepy mansion. Rachel, who is 16 of course is pissed. I read reviews that people found Rachel annoying. She’s 16, her father has passed away suddenly, her mom is dating a jerk and now she moves into a creepy mansion. Her actions and behavior is warranted.

Geoff, her mom’s new boyfriend is horrible. But to make matters worse, his house is haunted.

I couldn’t put this book down. Fair warning, it’s YA for those who don’t want to read about a teenager and their angst. I didn’t mind it. I thought the author portrayed the POV of a 16 year old perfectly.

The ending took a turn in the most unexpected way, but it gave all the spooky vibes that I needed for fall.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending the ARC.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review

The Keeper of the Key follows a very common trope when it comes to young adult horror, where the teenage protagonist is whisked away from the life she knew to a seemingly decrepit mansion where sudden and strange events start happening around her, and this book absolutely delivers. The author has done an exceptional job as making the characters realistic, the atmosphere chilling and the story engaging enough to keep you turning pages long after the sun has gone down.