What Happened at Hawthorne House is a historical horror novel, split between set 1926 and 1939, that tells the story of the girls of Hawthorne House OWhat Happened at Hawthorne House is a historical horror novel, split between set 1926 and 1939, that tells the story of the girls of Hawthorne House Orphanage. The girls develop a game called the Clover Court, which finds them constantly trying to one-up one another with "pranks" in an attempt at being crowned Queen.
I'm not sure what to make of this novella. It's sold as one thing -- an adult horror novella -- but doesn't feel like it's an adult story or a horror story. The writing is unfortunately juvenile at best, and there aren't any scares to be seen on the page. The trigger warnings at the end include "intense bullying," which is really what seems to be the main plot going on. The girls aren't committing any wildly horrifying acts against one another during their game, but they are just being mean girls, which wasn't exactly what I thought I'd signed up for. I wasn't scared, I just felt like I was in middle school again.
There are also just so many girls to keep track of almost immediately, and none of them have any defining features that make them stand out from the group. The entire first 60% of the novella read something like: this girl did this mean thing, so she's the queen now, then this other girl did this other slightly meaner thing, so she gets to be queen now, repeat, repeat, repeat. One girl could be entirely interchangeable with another, and so could whatever "prank" she was playing.
I wish I'd had a better time with one, because the idea of creepy kids doing creepy things usually makes for a good time. But the kids were just flat, mean girls and that's not what I'm looking for from my horror.
Thank you to Brigids Gate Press and NetGalley for the arc of this book!
Merged review:
What Happened at Hawthorne House is a historical horror novel, split between set 1926 and 1939, that tells the story of the girls of Hawthorne House Orphanage. The girls develop a game called the Clover Court, which finds them constantly trying to one-up one another with "pranks" in an attempt at being crowned Queen.
I'm not sure what to make of this novella. It's sold as one thing -- an adult horror novella -- but doesn't feel like it's an adult story or a horror story. The writing is unfortunately juvenile at best, and there aren't any scares to be seen on the page. The trigger warnings at the end include "intense bullying," which is really what seems to be the main plot going on. The girls aren't committing any wildly horrifying acts against one another during their game, but they are just being mean girls, which wasn't exactly what I thought I'd signed up for. I wasn't scared, I just felt like I was in middle school again.
There are also just so many girls to keep track of almost immediately, and none of them have any defining features that make them stand out from the group. The entire first 60% of the novella read something like: this girl did this mean thing, so she's the queen now, then this other girl did this other slightly meaner thing, so she gets to be queen now, repeat, repeat, repeat. One girl could be entirely interchangeable with another, and so could whatever "prank" she was playing.
I wish I'd had a better time with one, because the idea of creepy kids doing creepy things usually makes for a good time. But the kids were just flat, mean girls and that's not what I'm looking for from my horror.
Thank you to Brigids Gate Press and NetGalley for the arc of this book!...more
The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey follows the cast of a reality TV show, Garden State Goddesses. The show (and book) has everything a hit reality shThe Really Dead Wives of New Jersey follows the cast of a reality TV show, Garden State Goddesses. The show (and book) has everything a hit reality show needs - friendship, rivalries, secrets, flashy cars, and cat fights. Oh, and murder.
This book is punchy and fast-paced. The cast of characters are over-the-top and surrounded by drama at all times. It's really everything a reality TV fan could ask for in a book. Sprinkle in a little murder mystery, and you have a fun, quick read on your hands. The confessionals format was really the icing on this reality TV themed cake.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eArc of this book!...more
Loading...
