WHAT?! A House at the Bottom of a Lake starts as a cute love story between two seventeen-year-olds and develops into something..... else. There's a third lake, hidden by bushes, through a tunnel, and something is just off. Something doesn't feel right, maybe it's the two-story house sitting at the bottom of the lake? Deciding not to ask how or why James and Amelia decide to explore the house as their relationship evolves and becomes more than just the two of them. It's the two of them and the house, together, always, and never. The ending really left me wondering and wanting more, but the story itself was so great that I didn't care at all.

5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Ballantine books.

I love strange and this book was strange! Who would've thought of a house at the bottom of a lake. Interesting, different, and chilling intertwined with a love story. But is any home ever empty? Even ones at the bottom of a lake?

From the blurb: <i>Just because a house is empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.</i>

I mean, what would you do if you found an entire house submerged beneath the surface of a lake that seems undiscovered but for your first date adventure!? - I'd check it out too!
This novella is eerie and unsettling and I could not put it down.

I'm not sure what to make of this novella about a pair of teens who find a house at the bottom of a lake (duh). It's not horror, it's not suspense. It's really a story about the decisions they make. It wasn't my cup of tea but I'm sure others will find it engaging. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a novella about a couple of teenagers who, on their first date canoeing, come across a private smaller lake and find a house under the water. They end up exploring the house and returning day after day. This is no ordinary house and while exploring there are elements of magical realism making it very creepy and suspenseful. This was a quick and interesting read with an ambiguous, thought provoking ending.

I love Malerman's writing style - it is so eerie and mysterious while still developing the story in such a way that captivates you. I loved this book, perfect amount of twists and turns!

This is the first book I have read from this author. I liked the Bird Box movie so I was eager to read this book who is the same author. I don't know if it was just this book, but I did not like his writing style. Using 2 word sentences and parentheses abundantly. It makes the narrative seem choppy and distracting. Also the point of view was jumping back and forth between the characters which made it confusing. Speaking of confusing, the whole story was confusing (and boring), especially the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Josh Malerman for a copy of "A House at the Bottom of a Lake" in exchange of an honest review.

A House at the Bottom of a Lake sounds like a straightforward enough concept but the telling of it is so much more. Two teenagers decide to take a relative's canoe out on the lake for a picnic first date. In doing so, they discover another connected lake, one that they didn't know even existed. Quiet and private, it's the perfect place for these two to get to know one another and fall in love. However, there's something else waiting for them in the lake; a perfectly preserved house just sitting there.

Of course, the teens wonder how and why the house is there, but soon they claim it as their own secret spot. They spend their days swimming in the water exploring as much as they are able and their nights camped on a floating platform above. Soon enough, all of their thoughts are overwhelmed by the house. At first, the discovery is full of magic and wonder as they find ways to explore more and more of the house. While the obsession with the house grows, so does the eerieness and otherworldliness of the house. Objects that should float, don't. Books that should be moldered and wet, aren't. Sounds that shouldn't be heard in a house at the bottom of a lake, are.

Don't expect a rush to the ending on this one. While it is a novella, Malerman excels at the slow burn. Take your time and enjoy the summer days with young love. It's enchanting and mysterious, sometimes awkward and painfully heartfelt, but always genuine. Is it horror though? Eh. There's no denying that there are a few incredibly creepy and claustrophobic moments, but what I loved about it is that Malerman gives you just enough and lets you decide on your own. Many will close the book with frustration and no more answers than when they began, but as Amelia and James vow, maybe it's better to not ask the how and why of something.

A young teenage couple discover a house at the bottom of the lake. While exploring the exciting and dangerous depths, more mysteries are called into play as they can't seem to stay away from the house at the bottom of the lake.

When James asks Amelia out, it’s like someone else took his place and did so. And to his surprise she says yes and a date is set with a canoe trip. But little did they know that they’d end up finding a house at the bottom of a lake. A house that continuously draws them back, nearly consuming their every waking moment. Why is the house there? Why has no one else discovered it? And why does it seem to be perfectly intact beneath the water?

I found this book strange but intriguing at the same time. It felt as though there was a supernatural element to it. The ending was open ended and left the reader to come to his/her own conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the book!

Thank you #Netgalley and Ballatine Books for the arc.

This book read like it was a companion to a bigger story. The ending almost seemed as if there was more to the story that we should have already been familiar with. Other than that, I truly got a kick out of this story. It was entertaining and if it is a companion to a bigger story, then I need to find out what it is!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this title.

I was interested in this title due to having previously read Malerman's Bird Box and Inspection. I liked both of those books and had been wanting to check out more of the author's work.

The basic premise of the book is that, while out on a first date, two teens on a canoe trip discover a house beneath a lake, and they keep returning to further explore their mysterious find. As one would expect from a Malerman title, there are plenty of moments of unexplained creepiness. Those looking simply for scares may be disappointed, though. This story might be best read from a more metaphorical perspective.

This was such an easy, fun book! I really love horror set underwater, because I'm personally in awe over how terrifying the deep water is. I just find the setting so perfect and eerie, and I love Josh Malerman's writing. I know this one gets mixed reviews, but I personally thought it was delightful. Scary, short, consumable, well written. Loved!

[3 Stars] maybe like a 2.75

-- thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review --

I thought this was interesting, but not really something that stands apart from the rest. The atmosphere was definitely there, I felt a general sense of unease the whole time and was definitely creeped out by certain scenes. This story does a good job playing with classic childhood fears (like being in the dark, being deep underwater, noises when you think you're alone, mysterious laughing, etc), which I liked.
But on the flip side, I think the characters fell flat, they really didn't have any substance to them besides how they felt about the house, and the ending dropped the ball. It just didn't match the intensity of the rest of the book. Perhaps if there was a little less ambiguity about the house or maybe the ending was more punchy this would have had a larger impact on me.

This book has a good creep factor but I'm not sure where it could be labeled horror. It was entertaining but the end was one where you either love that way of writing or you don't. I'm pretty easily entertained and love creepy so giving it 4 stars. I will keep watching for this author because I did really love the Bird Box!

This novella from Josh Malerman is a beautiful story of first love. Two 17 year olds, a secret lake, a house submerged underwater. It's terrifying, it's beautiful, it's weird.

I loved everything about this.

Thank you to netGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.

Not sure what I just read. While well written, I felt like I had pages missing at the end because the ending was so abrupt. There were moments of suspense and mystery, but I was left wanting more. The characters seam to be incomplete. While not sorry I read the book, I hate the feeling I walk through an episode of the Twilight Zone and left early.
Rating 3 1/2 stars

A House at the Bottom of the Lake is a novella from Josh Malerman.

"Amelia and James discover a hidden lake while canoeing on their first date. But there's something odd there - an entire house beneath the water. As they explore the house they find many things that can't be explained. But when they hear creaking footsteps on the 2nd Floor they swim away in fear. But the house still calls to them and they must go back..."

Malerman is does a great job putting the creepy in your mind. Standing in a lake or even knee deep in the ocean there's often a sense of something there around your ankles. Malerman makes you think about that while while the teenagers swim around the house. The creepiness of going down into a dark, unknown basement.
Many things you have to just accept with this short book - like how two teenagers can find a working deep dive suit or pay for scuba gear and lessons. But it's fiction, so it doesn't have to be reasonable.

The ending was a bit unexpected. I would have liked to see more about the backstory of the house but Malerman lets the reader fill in the blanks as they choose.

Fans of Bird Box and Malorie should enjoy this short read from Malerman.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected release date January 19, 2021.***

2 stars

I wish I had more specifics, but I just really didn’t enjoy this book.

This book is unique and almost poetic. There is a great deal of "unknown" in the story. A certain extent of which is left up to the reader's interpretation. The events of the story could be a mysterious chain of events connected to a house under the water or it could be using the house as a representation of other things. For example the house in the lake could be synonymous with the young couple's fledgling relationship.

Like I said, there was a great deal of open interpretation in this novella. It might not appeal to many readers, but I like the ability to "read between the lines" in a story sometimes. For me, it can make it much more interesting. That said, I was a bit disappointed in the extreme vagueness of the ending. Again, I can see the "beauty" in that type of an ending. However, I really wanted firmer answers at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the words contained within are my own.