this was crazy! i loved the echo wife and couldn't wait to read a horror by the same author. the first half was slow but built up the tension and left me extremely curious. the vivid imagery made me physically cringe but it was a satisfying ending. I like that Gailey's female leads win, in their own way. Can't wait to see what is next

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow, what a story. I had no idea what direction this was going in and I was NOT disappointed. The ending, while it could be perceived to be out of left field, if you paid attention it was telegraphed all through the story. Very good.

I went into Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey purposefully blind. I didn't read the description, I just knew it was a Gailey book and it would be dark based on the cover. I'm glad I went in blind even if it meant being a tiny bit confused at the beginning. This book unfolds slowly but with so much purpose and care that it's hard to stop reading. Just Like Home is unsettling, creepy, and should absolutely find its way into your spooky season TBR if you haven't read it yet! You can look up the book description, but going in blind was a lot of fun! There aren't any trigger warnings I can think of that wouldn't fall under the scope of many horror novels: violence, blood, and creepy happenings. There were no likeable characters in this book, but it's still utterly compelling and readable. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was very good!!

When you think of a book with the title "Just Like Home," if you're like me, you think of coziness, comfort, and stability. Then you look at the cover of this book and realize that what's inside will most likely contain none of those feelings.

This book was a wild ride from page one. From the first page, I definitely felt the eerie vibes, but the book continued to be pretty realistic until she arrived home and... strange things started happening. The premise of the book promises as much (having a serial killer father doesn't really scream "totally normal"), but as you read further, you realize that the happenings are often paranormal in nature.

The transitions from realistic fiction to thriller/suspense to straight-up horror was seamless! Overall, it was such a fun and spooky read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was quite thrilling and creepy. After finishing this, I had to sleep with a light on (despite what my partner wanted). I actually really enjoyed the pacing and think it added to the story.

3.5 Stars. I really enjoyed the second half of the book. It was super creepy and thrilling but the first half of the book was really slow. I’m glad I stuck with it because I did end up really enjoying it. You won’t regret reading it and I’m glad I did!

You know when a book is incredibly gripping and enticing until the very end, and then the whole plot just kind of falls apart?

Unfortunately, Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey falls squarely within that catagory. Even going in with the knowledge that our main protagonist Vera grew up with a serial killer for a father (it's in the description), I still enjoyed the slow building storyline of her disturbing childhood. With fun supernatural elements thrown in, I expected this story to go in a completely different direction than it did.

I really cannot divulge too much more without falling into a SPOILERS category, but this one definitely fell apart for me within the last 20 pages. Bit of a bummer.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor books for the opportunity to read and review this title.

How do I talk about this book without ruining it for potential readers?

If you're into serial killers, haunted houses, toxic and hurtful mother-daughter relationships and absolutely gorgeous writing, this is the book for you. Definitely one of the weirdest, loveliest things I've read this year.

4.5/5 bumped up. To be honest, this isn't something I would recommend to just anyone, but if you love twisted, slow-paced stories of what love and hate can make us do, I'm convinced you will enjoy this.

While elements are certainly strong, I think I relied too heavily on its comparison to IBGITD going in. I was hoping for a deep dive into Francis' psyche and the relationship between him and Vera. Instead, the supernatural hook overwhelmed these issues and many of the questions I had went largely answered. Just Like Home is eerie and unsettling and Gailey is undoubtedly a skilled suspense writer, but for me the story felt a little disjointed, the ending a bit rushed, and ultimately I was left wanting a little something more. Three stars as the first two halves were great..

Just Like Home was one of my most anticipated summer reads, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The book started out strong and the pacing worked throughout the entire story — it was a perfect mixture of slow burn and suspense. I also enjoyed the social commentary on how as a society, we feel like we deserve a front row seat to other people’s trauma and pain. I found this aspect of the story extremely relevant. However, not much else worked for me regarding the storytelling. I found Vera to be an annoying protagonist, and the other characters were very one-dimensional. Daphne, Vera’s mother, had great potential to be a memorable villainess, but she was completely underdeveloped. Additionally, while I typically enjoy dual timelines, it just didn’t work in this book and added more questions than answers. Finally, without giving too much away, the story ended with supernatural and setting elements that left me confused about what I had just read. This book is definitely not for everyone, but it might be your cup of tea if you are looking for supernatural horror that leaves you questioning everything!

I was in the mood for a spooky read so I grabbed this. It had me until about 2/3 of the way through… and then the climax and ending? The bulk of the story was solid, hence the 3 stars. No spoilers, but if you want a true horror story, this one won’t be the one.

loved this ! From the beginning I couldn't put it down, the writing was phenomenal and I just found the story so intriguing. this is fantastic for people who love thrillers. this reminded me of haunting of hill house.

I went in knowing nothing about Just Like Home - only that it’s written by Sarah Gailey who never disappoints!

Vera returns home to Crowder House to care for her estranged mother in her final days. The old home is a familiar comfort to Vera despite that fact that her father, a serial killer, held many victims there. There are still secrets in Crowder House, a house haunted by long ago events, waiting for Vera.

This was a brilliant story with a high creep factor that had insanely strong Shirley Jackson vibes!
Huge thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Just Like Home was released July 19, 2022.

This is a gothic-flavored haunted house novel, so it includes all the vibes. If you loved the ghosty elements of Crimson Peak, pick this up!

“Slowly, painfully, the bed lifted far enough off the floor to release the thing that lived beneath it.”

Synopsis: “Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories ― she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family. Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be? There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

Personal review: 3.75

Gothic fiction? Haunted house? True crime podcast worthy story line? Serial killer?! Sign me up! This book was a rollercoaster, but don’t be like me and stay up late into the night reading it - the creepy prose will leave you just like the main character Vera - unable to sleep! Although the plot took me quite a few chapters to get into, when I made it over that haunting hump, there was no turning back. This book was like an onion, the more I read, the more layers the author peeled into the characters, their dynamics and the “why” behind their actions. I very much enjoyed this story and the unpredictable ending that came along with it! Thank you @netgalley and @torbooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have always really enjoyed Sarah Gailey's books and was really excited about this one! It definitely is less sci fi and more horror than The Echo Wife and Upright Women Wanted, but this was really enjoyable.

It actually gave me White Smoke by Tiffany Jackson vibes, but adult and also more supernatural? It was very different that I expected, but I really liked going in a bit blind and just learning the story along with the characters.

I'll for sure be recommending this book to horror/scifi readers. 3.5 stars rounded up

This book didn't work for me. I found the plot moved slowly and at times I wanted to DNF it. However, I stuck with it until the end and found it to be a creepy horror story that I just couldn't get into.

Just Like Home succeeds because of one very important thing: originality. No matter what you guess about what’s really happening, there’s pretty much no way you can guess the entire thing.

It was also nice to see rolls reversed, but I can’t say anything else without giving spoilers. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Vera's dying mother has called her home to the house her father built, the house where her father tortured his victims in the basement under Vera's bedroom. And, like a good daughter, Vera goes to help her. But her mother refuses any help with her personal care, insisting that she's made arrangements for that. Vera's job is to sort through closets and cupboards, digging through what was left after the murder investigations. Her mother has rented rooms to a series of artists and writers who have pillaged the place for inspiration and bits and pieces to add to their work. There's one still living in an outbuilding. While Vera's mom will barely speak to her, this guy wants to pry for details. This book is a slow burn that takes some incredibly creepy turns. I don't know what I was expecting, but that ending definitely wasn't it!