Well, I’m a big Riley Sager fan and I was so happy when @netgalley provided me with a copy to review. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one. The story wasn’t compelling me enough to keep me interested. I think others would still enjoy but it wasn’t for me and the twist had nothing to do with why I didn’t enjoy it. I was fine with part.

Perfect weekend type of thriller. Loved the whole cast of characters in this one. The plot twists were perfectly timed and very very good.

okay, Sager finally WENT THERE with these themes/tropes. this book was wild and a bit chaotic at times and i honestly ate it up; i loved the woman in the window vibe, and that Sager really made every single person look like they could be involved in one way or another. Definitely kept me guessing till the end, and i had a grand ol' time!

I've read a lot of Riley Sager and unfortunately it's getting to a point where I'm not sure how invested I am in his books anymore. They feel a little one-note, and this book is no different. I find the main character a bit cliche and the twists and turns are not quite hitting, the reveals not quite satisfying.

The story revolves around Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress seeking solace at her family's lake house in Vermont. Yet, her respite is short-lived when she becomes an inadvertent witness to a disturbing incident involving her seemingly perfect neighbors, Tom and Katherine Royce. As Casey delves deeper into the Royces' lives, she unravels a complex tapestry of secrets and hidden motives, forcing her to confront the fragility of her own reality.

One of the book's standout features is its suspenseful atmosphere, expertly crafted by Sager. The serene lakeside setting serves as a backdrop for mounting tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the twists and turns of the narrative.

Central to the story are the well-developed characters, particularly Casey, whose complexity and relatability draw readers into her world. Despite her flaws, Casey's journey resonates, as she grapples with personal loss and newfound revelations. The supporting cast is equally compelling, each harboring their own secrets and motivations that add layers to the intricate plot.

Sager's skillful plotting ensures that the story is rife with surprising twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the final pages. The fast-paced narrative propels the story forward, making it a gripping page-turner for fans of the genre.

However, some readers may find fault in the familiarity of the overall plot, noting similarities to other thrillers and a lack of originality. Additionally, the characterization may prove divisive, with Casey's complexity contrasting with the perceived unlikability of certain characters.

While the pacing may falter slightly in the middle section, "The House Across the Lake" ultimately delivers a captivating tale of suspense and deception that will leave readers eager for more. With its blend of gripping storytelling and compelling characters, it cements Riley Sager's reputation as a master of the psychological thriller genre.

Like most books written by this author it did not dissapoint. It took a little bit to get good but like a roller coaster once I did it was a worthy ride.

I love books by Riley Sager and this one did not disappoint. It was the right amount of scary and the characters were compelling.

2.5⭐️

Honestly the best part of this book was the Taylor Swift dedication at the beginning

Why do I keep reading this author’s books when they’re always so bad ??

2.5 ⭐️ I was so intrigued and surprised by how the story seemed to be going roughly halfway through and I wish that part of the story would have come sooner The first half of the book was slow for me, it was mainly “she’s drinking again” over and over and then glimpses of her life before this time at the lake. I would have liked to have learned more about her life with Len and more importantly, some more about the lake (and why!). There’s a much more interesting story in there without having to circle back to Tom and Katherine. What I thought was cool turned out to just be kind of odd.

This is my first Riley Sager novel and I will say that I enjoyed this book very much. It was fast paced, wild, and overall a great time. This novel could best be described as Rear Window but with a massive twist from the story we know. What I didn't love about this novel is that, because of Sager's massive left turn in the traditional Rear Window storyline, there were TONS of loose ends to tie up and the ending definitely felt rushed and a little haphazard. But overall a great read and one I'd recommend!

I didn’t not like this one, but reading it after some of Sagers other books possibly made me enjoy this less than I’d expect. A slow burn that picks up around half way through. Some of the twists felt a bit rushed. I love Sagers books and look forward to future work however this one just didn’t stand out to me.

In true Sager fashion this book was filled with crazy twists and turns and a major plot twist at the end that I did not see coming from a mile away.

Sager is a master at leading the reader towards a false sense of understanding where the story is going, just to pull the rug out at the very last second and reveal that things were not as they seemed.

As always I really enjoyed following along this story that was full of suspense. This one felt like more of a slow burn thriller in the beginning but once the action ramped up it was truly unputdownable.

RILEY SAGER, ya damn genius I LOVE YA.

He did it again folks, he did it again.

Loved it. Start to finish. No slow parts. A twist you won’t see coming.

Thriller by a lake? Add to cart. 🛒

If you know anything about me by now, I love reading a thriller set by a lake while sitting on the shore of a lake. Best summer pastime!

Riley Sager never misses!! The way I thought I knew where this story was going, but every time Riley was like SURPRISE! The writing had me on the edge of my seat and literally gasping out loud

He literally never misses and this book was no different

Wildly twisty, this suspenseful read starts out as what feels like a slow and interesting burn. With building insight into the puzzling activities of the neighbors populating a somewhat sinister lake-view community, our story is led by the first-person POV narration of Casey Fletcher, a thirty-something “troubled” actress who is still reeling emotionally from the recent drowning of her screenwriter husband. Huddled on the wrap-around deck of her private lakefront cottage, with a birds-eye view of her glamorous mega-model neighbor and her tech-titan husband, as Casey rapidly descends into a darkly alcoholic haze, it’s not clear if the drama unfolding is real, imagined, or a product of her addled brain cells.

Sinister and creepy, the story now unwinds with a crisp and compelling pace, right up to its explosive ending, virtually impossible to guess, and crowded with so many twists out of nowhere it feels downright chaotic. Hats-off to the author for this crazily inventive finish, which pulls out all the stops, literarily, weaving tricks and surprises that left this reader slightly dazzled, and more than a little awed.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

This was my first time reading anything from this author and I must say I did enjoy this book. I love a good thriller and this one didn’t disappoint. I have since added his backlist to my tbr. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but the ending wasn’t predictable and so good it was worth the wait. I read this as a bookclub pick with some friends. I loved talking about it and seeing the varying opinions. Overall, we were happy with our choice and would read any of the author’s books again.

**Many thanks to Sutton/Penguin House, and Netgalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book**

I had never read a book by Riley Sager before reading The House Across the Lake before this one, and I enjoyed my read. Part Rear Window, part atmospheric read, it's an easy book to get into it one wants a mystery/thriller that doesn't require much in-depth sleuthing. I enjoyed it.

I think this may be the end of the line with Sager for me. There’s just this strange underlining feeling for me whenever he writes through a young woman’s perspective. Honestly gives me the ick. His perception of how a young woman thinks is through his male lens and many male authors have also written through this perspective but they haven’t made me question the thought process.

I won’t even get into how the ridiculous choices his female characters make. I understand it’s a fictional book and in thriller genres choices that women make are from desperation but not even female authors have their characters make these choices. Food for thought.

The ending made little sense to me and the lead up to it. I also found it so far fetched and convoluted that I wanted to chuck the book out the window. I rarely give a book a 1✨ but here we are.

Riley Sager is an auto buy author for me. I have read all his books and have enjoyed every single one. This book fell somewhere in the middle for me in rating his books. The twist was unexpected and I did enjoy the storyline but wasn't expecting the turn it took.

The story was slow and repetitive. The twists were definitely shocking but preposterous at the same time. A little backstory maybe?