Ask any parent and they will tell you that their worst nightmare would be to lose a child. House on Fire is the story of any parent’s worst fear, but it takes it a step further by throwing a wrench in what is already a terrible, senseless tragedy. As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, my interest was piqued and I was adding it to my reading list. Bonnie Kistler had my full attention.

Leigh Huyett and Pete Conley were the modern-day Brady Bunch. How fortunate were they that they found love a second time around, were making a success out of their marriage, and that all of their children got along. When a car accident claims the life of Leigh’s daughter, and Pete’s son is charged with manslaughter, this blended family not only had to suffer unthinkable grief and loss, but this tragedy also had the potential to pit one side versus the other.

Despite how close this family was, it’s pretty clear that blood is thicker than water. It’s an innate reaction to any potential threat or harm to our family members. I could feel for each of the characters. Their situations were impossible. While they wanted to remain one united front, loyalties were being questioned, and when push comes to shove, it all comes back to protecting our own. But there was always the question of what really happened that night? Who was actually driving? Was Kip, Pete’s son, telling the truth?

I was completely invested in this story. I wanted to know how this family’s story was going to play out. I felt their pain, grief, and unimaginable positions. While I wanted Leigh and Pete to be able to overcome this major obstacle, I wasn’t naïve to think that it would all just fall into place.

The only issue that I had with this story was with a couple of the other storylines that were going on in the book. As I mentioned, I was invested in the family/legal drama that was unfolding, but I wasn’t really quite as intrigued by the other legal cases that were taking place. As I was reading, I kept wondering how the author was going to tie everything together. While she did make it all come together, personally, I was just more interested in what was transpiring with the Huyett-Conley family.

Overall, House on Fire was a solid debut novel. It was a thought-provoking, intense family drama/legal thriller that kept my attention throughout its entirety.

The verdict: I would definitely read another book by Bonnie Kistler.

I wanted to like this book, I really did BUT it was all over the place, like it wasn't sure what genre it wanted to be.

I was drawn in by the synopsis of a blended family experiencing a tragedy. One child is dead, another may be responsible; thought there would be some great drama and angst but there was not. There were moments, perhaps pages that this book drew me in and then lost me to another storyline, to an unbelievable event.

I would like to rad another book by Bonnie Kistler as the writing style was enjoyable for me the story just fell short.

House on Fire by Bonnie Kistler was one of my anticipated reads for 2019!

With that being said... I feel that people are going to be on a spectrum with this story. You're going to love it or you're going to hate it.

I was initially interested in this one due to the domestic and intense family drama aspect. The premise of the storyline had so much potential and it appeared would hit it out of the park. But, unfortunately, this one didn't live up to my expectations at all and didn't hit my mark.

The story started out strong with an interesting aspect to this blended family. The family was involved in a stressful event/accident and the novel explores the aftermath of this event and how if affects the entire family.

So, I was very confused because the author had other multiple storylines/subplots that were going on besides this main story between the family. I was losing interest and was having a very hard time following the story. The second half of the book... I just was finding myself more lost than anything?

The other subplots were almost unbelievable in my eyes and it changed the entire tune/feel of the story for me. It left me very disappointed and just wondering what the heck haha?

Overall, this story just wasn't for me.

2.5 stars for me on this one.

Thank you to Atria for the advanced arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Published to GR: 1/11/19
Publication date: 3/12/19

I don’t like to give bad reviews but this book was a DNF for me. I was drawn in by the comparison to Jodi Picoult, but this, unfortunately, was nothing like Jodi Picoult’s stories. It was a convoluted confusing mess.

I tried to read this book, but I couldn't get into it at all. I had to DNF this because the plot wasn't as interesting as the summary made it seem.

Two and a half stars. This book had an interesting premise. Leigh and Pete have a blended family. Kip, Pete's son, is involved in a DUI accident that ends up causing an aneurism that kills Chrissie, Leigh's daughter. Leigh and Pete will be pulled in different directions, their marriage unable to stand the grief and subsequent manslaughter trial. If Kistler and her editor had focused mainly on this, I think it would have been a better book.

But instead, there are all these subplots that don't add anything to the story. A Qatari sheikha who is desperate to leave her marriage and needs Leigh's help (she's a lawyer). A reverend who counsels Leigh and has his own secret he's hiding; will Stephen and Leigh start a romance? Then there's the mysterious house surrounded by walls. What's going on in there? And let's not forget John Stoddard, the ex-op who exfiltrates people and is a bounty hunter. Then I forgot - there's Leigh's friend's daughter whose estranged husband is trying to get access to their unborn baby.

So yes, there's way too much superfluous things going on that made me frustrated. Where was the editor in all this? And then I was just annoyed with Leigh and Pete's relationship. They never talked! They were acting like teenagers not a married (for the second time) couple for five years. They basically separated without ever having one conversation about it. I found that really annoying and made me dislike both characters. The only character I liked was Chrissie, which was unfortunate, because she was dead.

This book is a well written drama. The central theme of this book makes you think of your own morality and value system. That in itself is an acievement for the author. The only reason I won’t rate it a 5 because I think Kip deserved a better ending. I love how most of pieces in the book fell in to place eventually and painted a beautiful story. I did not like how there were many subplots that did not really add to the plot. After a very long time have I had to stop reading a book to do some background research because the Ms Kistler used terminology that got me thinking! It is great when an author can manage to interest you in to educating yourself beyond what’s in the book. Overall this was a gripping read. I’m glad I got a chance to read it. Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for Giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

House on Fire is a suspenseful book about how a drunk driving accident involving the death of a child that leaves a blended family torn apart. The main story line is good but it has multiple sub plots that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the original storyline. The book was confusing for me and I really could not get into it. I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

House on Fire by Bonnie Kistler is a novel that centers around a family drama. It was described as a book for those who are fans of Jodi Picoult and Celeste Ng, which I am!

Here’s what you need to know:

Divorce lawyer Leigh Huyett knows all too well that most second marriages are doomed to fail. But five years in, she and Pete Conley have a perfectly blended family of her children and his. To celebrate their anniversary, they grab some precious moments of alone time and leave Pete’s son Kip, a high school senior, in charge of Leigh’s fourteen-year-old daughter Chrissy at their home.

Driving back on a rainy Friday night, their cell phones start ringing. After a raucous party celebrating his college acceptance to Duke and his upcoming birthday, Kip was arrested for drunk driving after his truck crashed into a tree. And he wasn’t alone—Chrissy was with him.

Twelve hours later, Chrissy is dead and Kip is charged with manslaughter.

Kip has always been a notorious troublemaker, but he’s also a star student with a dazzling future ahead of him. At first, Leigh does her best to rally behind Pete and help Kip through his ordeal. Until he changes his story, and claims that he wasn’t driving after all—Chrissy was, and he swears there is a witness.

Leigh is stunned that he would lie about such a thing, while Pete clutches onto the story as the last, best hope to save his son, throwing his energy and money into finding this elusive witness. As they hurtle toward Kip’s trial date, husband and wife are torn between loyalty to their children and to each other, while the mystery of what really happened that night intensifies.

This one sounds intense and I look forward to starting it soon. Due out on March 12, 2019

This book was way too confusing for me, I tried to read it on a couple different occasions, but it just was really hard for me to get in a rhythm of enjoying it. I ended up finally deciding to list it as a I couldn't finish,
Will let Chapter Chatter Pub know about it's release, and use in a daily challenge.

DNF This book is all over the place. In just the first ten percent there are a variety of plots when all you want to read is the story about the family. I just could not get engaged in this story at all.

After reading this book I have concluded that the author must suffer from multiple personality disorder and was off her meds while writing this book.

This is the most convoluted book I have ever read. What started out as an intriguing family drama turned into a discombobulated mess with multiple subplots that had absolutely nothing to do with the original storyline. Furthermore, these subplots were so outlandish they left me astonished at their absurdity.

I spent the second half of the book with a permanent look of a perplexed cartoon character with the floating question marks above my head.

I've read through the reviews and I'm telling you, the 4 and 5 star reviewers either
1) did not actually read the book or
2) felt compelled to give a positive review in exchange for the ARC they received.

Worst book of 2018 for me.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a couple of different story lines going on and I found myself totally engaged in Kip’s story but the one about the embassy, I found myself pushing through the pages as quick as I could. For that reason, I’m giving this book 4 stars when I think I would’ve given it 5 stars if I didn’t do as much skimming. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book for my honest opinion.

Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller.

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this. Read it today!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

Going into this book, you know there will be crisis and tragedy. While taking us through that story, Kistler also provides us with plenty of twists and turns and suspense. While at times, I felt like some of the side stories were too predictable, I enjoyed how everything tied together in the end. I would recommend picking this book up, and you may not want to put it down! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is available on March 12, 2019 here:
https://www.amazon.com/House-Fire-Novel-Bonnie-Kistler-ebook/dp/B07GNWNSF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543191402&sr=8-1&keywords=House+on+Fire+Bonnie+Kistler

If you are interested in this book and only have a small amount of time to read this book, move on, this book is NOT for you! This book is a bully, it grabs you by your collar and pushes you up against the wall and you are like OMG, what the...? Where is this going? HUH? I got 16% through this book and was like, um where is my ring? You are committed to this book from the beginning, as it really grabs you and you are invested. I finished this book in one sitting, my family was all like MOM...this and that and I was hiding in my closet trying to finish this book.
We begin this book with a blended family of a 14 year old daughter and high school senior, Kip are left alone while a couple on their second marriage celebrate their 5th anniversary. Kip is being arrested for drunk driving after he drove his truck into a tree. Unfortunately, his step-sister, Chrissy was with him. Did I mention, Kip is on the cusp of being 18 years old, which is considered an adult. In the court, the difference between 17 and 18 is quite a difference, it represents being tried as an adult or as a child in the court of law. Kip has a long history of bad things that he has done. As his past is celebrated with his buddies, Kip notices his stepsister at the party. She is there to bring him home, as their parents were on their way home and she was trying to save him from punishment. What happens next is just the beginning of a long exciting story. There are side twists and so many OMG moments that you cannot sleep, you just need to keep on reading. I was completely blown away about all of the twists and turns and what the... moments. There are times where you wonder, where is this going and then it just unfolds wonderfully!
I am going to start following this author. I cannot wait until her next book!

Two teens, step-siblings, driving home one rainy Friday night. Twelve hours later one is dead and the other is charged with manslaughter.
This book drops the main story into the reader's lap right in the beginning of the book.
Where does your loyalty lie in a blended family? Ours, yours, mine?
Will you believe anything in order to save your son?
Do you refuse to believe anything in order to preserve your daughter's memory?
Leigh and Peter have to try untangle the mess their blended family landed in when his son and her daughter were involved in an accident where Kip was driving, or was he, and Chrissy ended up dead a few hours later.
The bones of the story are laid out early on in the book. As the story progresses "flesh" is added to these bones.
There are various side stories interwoven throughout this book, which first make you wonder what their purpose is. As the story starts wrapping up in the end these side stories form the final fabric that meshes the whole story together.
I didn't think there was much to this story that could be developed further as the whole scene was laid out in the beginning, but the author really surprised me with the various twists and plotlines. This is definitely a book that can be reread to catch the little bits of story that you may have overlooked first time around.

this is a fascinating book about how a drunk driving accident leaves a family torn apart and the after effects

First, thanks to Atria books and Netgalley for the ARC

Overall, I liked this book. Interesting premise and a look at blended families. I also like the character development. I did think there may have been one too many side stories but it wasn't a huge issue. However, the main story was strong and could stand on its own. I look forward to more works from Bonnie Kistler.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The premise of the book was great and had a lot of potential ... the follow through not so great. At first, I was really invested in the characters, their struggles and what the outcome might be.

However, the more I read, the less I liked it. I found that there was a lot of extraneous information - side stories - that were really not necessary in moving the story forward or necessary for the character development. It started out strong but ended in a fizzle.

Thank you #netgalley and #atria books for the eARC.