I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix Narrator: Jay Aaseng, Mikhaila Aaseng
Published by Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Random House Audio on January 17, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Horror
Length: 12 hours 59 minutes
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a hilarious and terrifying new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else....
Louise's parents have passed away, and she's returning to the small Southern town where she grew up to get their house ready to sell. It means she'll have to spend time with her younger brother—and their old grudges make that a terrifying prospect. But childhood hurts pale in comparison to the dangers posed by what still lives inside the house.
I liked this book quite a bit and thought it was really original. This is only the second time I have picked up a Grady Hendrix book, but it will definitely not be my last. I was hooked by this story and couldn’t wait to find out what was happening in this house. I really loved the fact that there is a thread of humor woven throughout the book. This was definitely one of those books that could be almost impossible to set aside.
When Louise learns that her parents have died, she goes to California to help her brother Mark settle the estate. To say that I didn’t care for Mark at the beginning of this book is a huge understatement. Louise and Mark clash over just about every decision regarding their parents’ death, funeral, and how to deal with their belongings. Mark wants to get rid of everything and sell the house as soon as possible but it quickly becomes obvious that something more sinister than a bunch of dolls is going on in the house. But if you are looking for creepy dolls….this book is full of those!
I really liked the way that the relationship between Louise and Mark grows and changes over the course of the story. It was great seeing them work together as a team. There were some pretty intense scenes in this book and I have to admit that one scene made me cringe a bit which rarely happens. I was very curious about how everything would be resolved and I was impressed by just how satisfying the ending was.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Jay Aaseng and Mikhaila Aaseng did a great job with the story. The bulk of the book was read by the female narrator which made sense since most of the book is from Louise’s point of view. I thought that they both did a great job of bringing these characters to life. I definitely believe that the narration added to my overall enjoyment of this book.
I would recommend this book to others. The story was a little different than I expected but that wasn’t a bad thing. I was completely entertained by this story from beginning to end and am quite relieved that my mother’s home is not full of creepy dolls. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
I did like the one I listened to by him. That one was different than what I thought too
I have only read one other book by him but I definitely want to read more soon.
I’m glad to hear you liked this one; it’s high up on my TBR list and I’m very excited to read it. I really enjoyed Hendrix’s Horrorstor and The Final Girl Support Group.
Both of those books are on my tbr!
I’m looking forward to catching this one on audio this year. I usually enjoy his books a lot. He has a fun sense of humor that always shines through.
The humor was so well done!
That sounds great. If a story can entertain me, that’s a good thing.
I am always hoping for entertainment!
I am definitely not a fan of creepy dolls and am glad none of my relatives are collectors! This does sound good and like one I need to find the audio for.
Yeah, I think that I will stick to my collection of books.
This would probably terrify me and it’s hard to do that with a book for me. I am intensely afraid of puppets and dolls! Never had a puppet, thank god, but I did have dolls when I was really young and got rid of them because I was afraid they’d come alive while I was sleeping and come after me. Thank you, Twilight Zone Talkie Tina episode! Having said all that can you believe I might want to read this? Lol. I have a love/hate relationship with horror, thus the nightmares.
Well, if you are afraid of puppets and dolls, I will warn you that this book is full of them!
I’ve enjoyed a couple of this author’s other books and am excited about reading this one! I am glad you liked it, Carole!