I enjoyed the back and forth of the past and present and liked seeing how Lizzy ended up where she did. However, reading about the past, Gran, Iris, and Violet were super creepy. I got bad vibes from the start and knew something was up with the way Gran found Iris.

The entire story felt very vague and I did feel like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I didn't understand why Iris was the way she was and then when the reveal happened, I was awe-struck. Also, when Lizzy is trying to find the monster that is capturing these women, I had a really hard time figuring out if she meant an actual monster.

That's what was so interesting to me... the line between supernatural and 'real' was completely blurred the entire time and as confusing as that was, it was also really different.

I loved McMahon's writing style and her storytelling. She kept things vague and close to the chest but was still able to tell a really cohesive story.

The stories within the book, the secrets that were held by Gran and others were horribly sad; it was a little disturbing at times and I wish things were further explained... it feels like some things were really left unsaid.

All of that aside, I still really enjoyed the book and I'm glad I read it. It was different, unique, and scary! If you're looking for something different, something to pull you out of a reading slump I highly recommend this one.

It's 1978. Violet and Eric spend their days wandering the property and area surrounding The Hillside Inn, a well-regarded psychiatric hospital where their grandmother provides care for the mentally ill. Their grandmother, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is a pioneer in the psychiatry field. One day, she brings home Iris and instructs the children to take care of her like a sister, but not to let anyone see her...

In 2019, Lizzy Shelley has tried to forget her upbringing in Vermont, even to the point of changing her name. She now hosts a popular podcast about monsters, and wanders the country chasing their stories. Heading back to Vermont for the first time since her childhood, Lizzy hopes to find the monster that's been chasing her for her entire life: her long-lost sister.

As is her formula, McMahon flips back and forth between past and present. Having a fascination with asylums, I especially loved the earlier parts where we learn about the childhood of Violet, Eric, and later Iris. The twist was rather surprising - and then the ending... Suffice it to say, there is a reason why I automatically put all the author's book on my TBR!

3.5/5 (rounded up)

Going into this, I had no idea The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon was a play on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, but I could definitely see the similarities as I read. I think it is pretty obvious if there is a "real" monster/supernatural being or not in this book, and it really does bring back the question of who the real monster is. The Winter People will seemingly be my favorite of McMahon's forever, and I keep waiting for one of her newer books to live up to it. Unfortunately, this one doesn't, but I really loved the end and that's what helped me enjoy this a bit more than her other more recent novels. When I see McMahon's name, I will always read her, and I am still excited for every new release. The Children on the Hill has an exceptional cover (very fitting), and a really great spooky, atmospheric feel throughout.

The audiobook is really wonderful and narrated by Erin Moon who I always enjoy listening to. There are a couple of different viewpoints as well as excerpts from a book the children write called The Book of Monsters, along with an article. Moon was great for every single part, and I loved how at times she makes you feel like you are listening to a whole other narrator. I highly recommend the audiobook, and it was great for keeping me engaged in the story. The Children on the Hill is told in the past and present, and the past is really focused on Vi's POV as a child. This is a huge part of the story so it in turn made a lot of this feel really juvenile to me, and I wish there had been an adult viewpoint or at least less of that time period overall. The end is truly what made this book for me, and I loved loved LOVED it. I will be interested to see where McMahon goes next in her writing, and I am still waiting for her to go back to her roots of super weird and creepy books.

Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Loved this book so much. I literally do not want to type too much to give anything away. All I will say is that you will be surprised!

secrets and mystery and twists OH MY! love JM and all the spooks she brings in each new story she puts out. i never know what to expect!

Overall this book was superb. The plot, pacing, and tone were perfect and kept me reading. I would have liked a little more character development, however, I know that could have interfered with the twist at the end.

I hate to be scared, but for Jennifer McMahon I will make an exception. This was delightfully scary and creepy and all the Frankenstein vibes. I don't know why I enjoy her books so much since I really do hate being scared, but this was a fun and terrifying read.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review

What a phenomenal book this turned out to be. Told via multiple timelines the story chronicles the life of Lizzie Shelley as she hunts down monsters and myths for her very popular blog and podcast. When a missing girl brings Lizzie back to her home state of Vermont, horrors and memories from her past seem to be hiding around every corner. For years she’s been hiding from her past (even her name is not what it once was) and while scared out of her mind to confront it all, Lizzie is determined to put her monsters to rest.

Lizzie and her brother did not have a normal childhood but they really made the most of it. Living rather solitary lives away from the townspeople, they studied like scholars during the day loving every minute of it to hunting monsters in the forest at night. The two lived with their grandmother after the unfortunate death of their parents. On the property were a few buildings aside from their home including a ‘clinic’ or what we’d call in modern times a sanitarium where their grandmother worked. The two are very solitary, barely leaving the property and even being schooled at home. Lizzie never really questioned anything about her life until g a brings home a young girl named Iris. Iris is an oddity but slowly the two bond and Lizzie is determined to help Iris however she can. Only digging deeper into Iris’s life will have serious repercussions that will haunt Lizzie for decades to come.

The book was absolutely riveting and told in such a way to keep you hooked. The buildup and unveiling takes its time over the course of the book but combined with a some twists and turns you'll be left scrambling trying to figure out if what just happened really happened. Really great read, highly recommend.

McMahon’s novel is a fun and dark page-turner told in two points of view, borrowing some from the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

1979- Vi and Eric live with their grandmother, Dr Hildreth. Their grandmother runs a hospital for the mentally ill, homeschools the children, and doesn’t allow them much access to anyone in town. One day she brings home Iris, a girl who seems to be nonverbal. Throughout the summer, the kids invite Iris into their Monster Club, where the learn and write about monsters and do their own investigations.

2019- Lizzy Shelley is a podcaster who hunts monsters. She has a small cult following and travels throughout the country in search of supernatural beings. One of the monsters she’s in search of is her sister.

I really enjoyed McMahon’s writing in this novel! The 1979 storyline was a lot of fun for the most part and brought back some of my own summer escapades as a kid, albeit with a much darker twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scout Press for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Jennifer McMahon and The Children on the Hill did not disappoint. It was thrilling and creepy with a satisfying twist that kept me reading long into the night.

Thanks to Net Galley and Scout Press for a free copy to review.

Perfect amount of creepy, slow burn suspense. It took me a few chapters, but I couldn't put it down once I got into the story.

This book reminded me of a quote I like by Stephen King: "Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." It's true, and sometimes, the monster is the last person we expect.

SPOILERS BELOW
.
.
.
I didn't see the twist coming, but it was perfect. I kept hoping Iris would somehow stumble upon a clue about where she came from, but it wasn't meant to be.

I didn't love the ending. It took some of the supernatural thrill out of the story for me. It also left me with even more questions, because there's no way her plan is infallible with so many people required to make it work. And why go back to where it all started? That's a huge risk that doesn't seem worth it. The Monster could have led Lizzy anywhere.

It started out pretty strong for me, but the ending fell a little flat. Overall, a decent story inspired by Frankenstein.
**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review **

Do monsters exist? If they do, what makes them a monster? Lizzy is a professional monster hunter having been fascinated by monsters since her youth. This fascination started in her unusual childhood where she and her siblings lived with her grandmother, a world renowned psychologist who ran the Hildreth Inn, a home for the mentally unwell who others had given up on. As the story unravels we learn that Lizzy isn’t really Lizzy but an alias she has to go by to protect her identity after the “incident.” An incident that left her without a home. This thriller has an intro that had me wanting to flip the page, a dual time plot that kept me intrigued on what kind of childhood Lizzy really had, and twists and turns that had me reeling. I’m giving this book 4 stars! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery / Scout Press, and Jennifer for an advance copy of The Children on the Hill.

It’s 1978 and Dr. Hildreth works at a hospital for the mentally ill on the same property where she lives and sees to her grandchildren Vi and Eric. One day Gran brings non-verbal outcast Iris to stay with the children and tasks Vi with reporting back to her on her progress. Vi and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club, a fun game the kids have learning and logging about the different monsters from classic horror films. It helps bring Iris out and eventually she becomes one of the family.

It’s 2019 and Lizzy Shelley hunts monsters for a living – really. She has acquired a cult following through her podcast and tv show where she seeks out cryptids trying to find proof of their existence. It’s a lonely and isolating job, but Lizzy’s life has been isolating and lonely for the most part. Her most recent conquest has been a personal task – hunting down a monster that she also calls sister.

Jennifer McMahon writes the kind of books that are difficult to review. There’s several layers, nothing is really as it seems, and it’s very hard to know what to say and what not to say, so I’ll just say this: This book was spooky without being scary, emotional without being sad, overall a really fun read.

There are gothic elements mixed with modern elements, the characters are well-written. The kids really were written so well, which is a tough task for an adult to pull off. The alternating timelines were different enough that it was not tough at all to put the book down and pick it back up without any confusion.

This book felt like a more subtle paranormal version of IT, with the misfit kids, but with the heart and relationships of Stand by Me and a little Stranger Things thrown in for good measure. I did not realize I was going to use TWO Stephen King books to describe this one, but here we are and I’m a-ok with it.

This was great. Might be my favorite Jennifer McMahon yet. When I first read about this I did not realize that this was a take on Frankenstein, which is my favorite book of all time. So I was stoked to see that when I started the book. Jennifer McMahon is always great with unsettling atmospheres and sister relationships. The twists and turns of this as we learned more about the story were very well done and many things caught me by surprise. I really enjoyed the ending. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and the author for an ARC of this book.

This is my second Jennifer McMahon hit in a row. This novel--as many others have noted--is a loose appropriation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, so of course, I had to be in. Here, we see a new version of the mad scientist and a terrifying glimpse into how we might make monsters in the modern era.

The POV switches between the here-and-now and the late 1970s as we follow our modern day monster hunter (heavy-handedly named Lizzy Shelley) in real-time and the narratives of her and her brother and sister in the past. I found both storylines compelling and was anxious to get back to both sequences. I figured out the twists rather early on but it didn't impact the tale at all--even when you realize what's happening, the utter horror of the whole situation still haunts you.

I liked the way this story is told from a woman's point of view. I'm also a sucker for any narrative told from a podcast-esque angle, though that concept wasn't overly played here. The novels I've read by McMahon tend to explore communities of women--and what happens when those communities are fractured. This is another page-turner in the vein; if you're a McMahon fan, I recommend picking this one up!

𝐀 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞/𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐁𝐑: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥🤯

Thank you so much @gallerybooks @scoutpressbooks @jennifermcmahonwrites for sending me this copy!! Ahh I loved it SO much, thank you!!

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: suspense/thriller
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: psych ward/human experiments gone wrong
𝐏𝐮𝐛. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 4/26/22
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ALL THE STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.24

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
The book switches between the 1970s where there’s a psych ward in Vermont, three little kids who live there, talk about eugenics, and human experiments going on to modern day, where we follow Lizzy Shelly (yes, it’s a nod to Frankenstein🤖), one of the kids from the psych ward, who is now a famous tv/blogging monster hunter. It’s really good and it’s wild, just read it!!

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

Oh my gosh I devoured this one. I’m drowning in school rn and completely put everything on the back burner to finish this one. Run, don’t walk to your nearest bookstore! It’s one of the best addictive thrillers I’ve read it a LONG time🤯👏🏻🖤

I really enjoyed The Children on the Hill! It was creepy and scary enough to keep me extremely engaged in the story all the way up until the end. I did not see the big twist coming at all. It was a perfectly executed scary monster story. We follow Violet and Eric who live with their grandmother, a very well respected psychiatrist. When their grandmother brings home a new little girl, Iris, she tells Violet and Eric that they will treat her as their new sister. Iris doesn't speak, she is very skittish - where did she come from? The story unravels the secrets of where Violet and Eric's grandmother really works and the unimaginable things that have happened there. Violet and Eric are convinced that monsters are real, and sometimes the worst monsters of all hide in plain sight. Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was a great one!!!

Wow! This was a great book. It had two timelines, one of which was in the 70's and one modern day. I loved the 70's as a setting. It also took place at an institution which had an excellent creep factor. The story moved a long at a good pace. It was twisty and turny and right at 80% I had the WTF moment! I didn't see it coming and it was fun. I also enjoyed the ending. A highly recommended read!

Boy, will this book keep you on your toes. First, let's get the kind of bad out of the way first. To clarify it's not that bad, more of a pet peeve of mine, but I bring it up for a good reason. I don't like detailed settings, so there's more room for imagination and for the first 15% or so this book has detailed settings that include lists and lists and lists of items in the room, etc. I fought through it by skimming those sections (which I'm not a fan of) and it was WORTH IT! So, if you're like me - stick with it, you won't be disappointed.

I thought I had it figured out, but then there was a twist and I thought okay, I kind of had it right, but then there's a twist that hits you between the eyes, and then another, and another. This book is a modern re-telling of Frankenstein that will knock you for a loop. No one will see the ending coming.