I don't know about captivating, but The House in the Pines is most certainly unique. This is Ana Reyes' debut novel and while I liked her writing overall, the pacing was much too slow for me here and the end felt like a pretty big disappointment. It didn't have much of a shock value, which I enjoy when I'm reading a thriller, and it felt really anticlimactic to me. This is a very slow-moving storyline, so it's probably a good thing that the book is on the shorter side at just over 300 pages, but man did those pages move at a snail's pace. I found my attention wandering because there wasn't really anything happening, and I would honestly call this more literary with an air of mystery. The journey is fundamentally about Maya trying to overcome her addiction without telling her boyfriend, and it is hard watching her struggle while she tries to figure out what happened all those years ago.

I feel like I just threw a bunch of negative things in this review, but I promise you I didn't hate it or anything, and I really did enjoy the world-building Reyes was able to do. Maya is a multi-dimensional character which is a win, and there is a little bit of murder that I was happy (I know), to have as well. The audiobook also provided an enjoyable listening experience, and I was very happy with Marisol Ramirez as the narrator. I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone of course, but most of the people who have enjoyed it liked that it was a fresh storyline and a complex plot. I do have to admit that I thought these things as well, so if you are a reader who appreciates these things and wants to give a debut author a shot, definitely pick up The House in the Pines.

I really wanted to love this book. It seemed promising and the initial premise was intriguing. It was easy to get into but it quickly became super disjointed and it seemed like the author was all over the place like they had a list of things they wanted included and just threw them all in. The main character was so unlikable and not in a fun, devious, or interesting way.

Things are just so nonchalantly brought up and left off and diving into Maya’s mind could have made it more interesting. As it stands it feels like I am just getting a list of things happening to her, her not reacting like any human being would, then on to the next. And it continues like that for 3/4 for the book. When things finally start to fall into place it takes the main character way too long to draw conclusions the reader came to instantly which makes it seem like it drags on.

I just don’t think the storyline was developed enough and the characters are so flat and the main character especially was void of emotion or rational thought 90% of the time. Even when everything unfolds it’s hard to relate to her decisions and feelings.

The ending seemed like one of plot convenience. Instead of creating a world and a lead up it’s just thrown in there and has no limits or rules. Like a game made up by a little kid that changes the rules in their favor any time you try to play along. It just seemed like the book took a weird turn out of absolutely nowhere and didn’t really take the time to flesh it out.

I really liked the plot line of her fathers book and it paralleling her experiences. I think that could have been a bigger part of the book and some of the superfluous things could have been left out. It really came and went where it would be a big plot point and then not mentioned again for a long time.

Over all this books needed a few rewrites before it should have been published. There are redeeming qualities to it and the writing itself isn’t bad, but it wasn’t executed well and I am left confused how Reese picked this one.


Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Randomhouse for this ARC.

To be honest, this was a rough start for me. The first quarter of the book felt rife with redundancies and struggled to move forward. However, I am glad I kept with it, because the story picked up steam once the protagonist began her journey to search for answers to a current suspected murder and the murder of her friend from years ago. The story departed from my expectation in a way that felt delicious. Wonderful setting - which is my favorite thing when reading. Propulsive writing and I was never distracted by the author. (often if I become aware of the author, that takes away from the story.) I would recommend this & already have!

This one was Not For Me. The build was too slow, the plot nebulous and a bit silly. The MC was not terribly likable, and all of that put together made this a slog.

Okay this book is SPOOKY! 😮 An unreliable narrator, Maya, is haunted by her past, and when a woman mysteriously dies the same way Maya’s best friend did a decade ago, she can no longer ignore the nagging question: What really happened all those years ago in the house in the woods? 🫣

Most of the time, Maya is drunk and in withdrawal from the pills she recently stopped taking. I think what Reyes did really well was making the readers FEEL Maya’s altered state of reality through a timeline that goes backwards and forwards, without actually naming that. This non-linear timeline does not start chapters with “Five years ago…” etc — you just sort of figure it out based on the context. I think for some people this would be a turn off, but I thought it was really reflective of Maya’s internal world.

This book is the definition of ATMOSPHERIC! Wow. The scenes about the house in the woods really drew me in and made me feel totally engrossed in the setting in a way I haven’t felt in a while.🌲🌲🌲

Where this book falls apart for me is the ending. I won’t spoil it, but the reveal was lackluster and unbelievable, and it sort of felt like the story just… ended. Such a bummer. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very strong debut novel and one of the more original/less predictable psychological thrillers I've read in recent memory. The story begins with our protagonist Maya viewing a viral video showing an inexplicable death during a night of insomnia due to Klonopin withdrawal, but her history with one of the people in the video becomes the central mystery as she revisits her past to figure out what exactly happened during the period of her life that led her to her current state. I was mesmerized by this book, and although the ending felt a little unresolved, it was an enjoyable read overall and I look forward to seeing more from Ana Reyes.

This book was definitely interesting. I enjoyed the beginning and felt that it had a really great start. However, towards the end it felt really rushed and didn't seem to make a lot of sense. I loved the cover and I loved the idea of the plot. It just took me a really long time to get through the last half of the book.

This thriller was definitely a slow burn. I really liked that it was unique in the hypnotism aspect. It made for such an interesting storyline. Reading this story I couldn’t figure out how it would end but Frank definitely gave off creepy vibes. I wasn’t a huge fan of the addiction trope for the main character. That’s a little overdone in my opinion. But the end of this book… I’m not even sure what the heck happened. It was going so well and then I thought the ending fell a little flat. Overall I would recommend this one, but I didn’t love it.

"The House in the Pines" is chilling, atmospheric, and haunting. It kept me guessing and, at times, somewhat confused. The writing is lovely, and it is easy to be pulled in to the characters and story. Recommended for those who enjoy mystery/thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received this arc from netgally in exchange for an honest review. I picked ir out soley on the title! I liked the book but wish the transiton between time lapses was smoother like maybe a dated chapter title? I enjoyed the plot until about 2/3 in when it just became wildy inplausible in my opinion. I was hoping for a ghost story somehow. This is still a good suspense novel and was interesting however. I would reccomend it for a quick read.

I think the strength of this book is that for a long time readers will question if our protagonist suffers from mental illness or is afflicted by the supernatural; that lack of clarity is what kept my interest in finishing the book. Without a doubt, this will make a cool show, however.

This psychological thriller debut is sure to keep you on your toes and on the edge of your seat. The House in the Pines follows our (unreliable) narrator Maya, as she attempts to find some answers about her best friend’s mysterious death. ⁣
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Reyes’s writing is atmospheric, and really draws you in from the start. Maya’s character is very complicated, and her experiences really intrigued me. The plot does get pretty intricate, but the great thing Reyes does is make it not feel so convoluted. The story felt fresh and unique, and because of all the twists and turns, I didn’t really see the ending coming! ⁣
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Overall, I think this was a strong debut, and I can’t wait to read more from Reyes.

The premise for The House in the Pines was interesting but unfortunately, I don't think it was executed well. I never felt connected to any of the characters so had a hard time rooting for them as a result. I could see the plot coming a mile off. I have no doubt that there are readers who will enjoy Reyes' take on the ways memories distort and the nature of friendship but it wasn't for me.

Armed with only hazy memories, a woman who long ago witnessed her friend’s sudden, mysterious death, and has since spent her life trying to forget, sets out to track down answers. What she uncovers, deep in the woods, is hardly to be believed....

Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer.

Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer—the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey.

At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin....

Utterly unique and captivating, The House in the Pines keeps you guessing about whether we can ever fully confront the past and return home.

I really didn’t think this thriller did much. The premise sounded very interesting and I was excited for the twist but it didn’t seem believable. I also didn’t like how this book wrapped up in the end, there’s no real conclusion as to what’s going to happen with Frank. Overall I’m disappointed in this one.

Thank you so much @DuttonBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 03 January 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Maya stumbles across a viral YouTube video of a young woman dying while sitting across a diner table from her male companion. This is the exact same way her best friend died after high school and upon closer inspection, the male is Maya's old boyfriend from around the same time period.

WHAT I LIKED:
- appreciated that the author went out of the box with the plot

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- unreliable narrator suffering from Klonopin withdrawals (can we just stop with the substance abuse trope?!)
- the pacing was so slow to the point that I was struggling to stay engaged
- the heavy focus on the past
- the Guatemalan backstory (although was interesting) didn't really add anything to the story

A spooky book that captured a vivid atmosphere and strong sense of mood and place. I was drawn in by the imagery and enjoyed following the main character in her hunt for the truth. The time
jumps kept me guessing and engaged and I loved the characters- even those with tiny parts were fully formed and felt like real people. A contemporary gothic thriller- great fun!

It was a treat to speak with Ana Reyes about her writing process on the Oh! Murder podcast: link below.

The House in The Pines
By Ana Reyes

I enjoyed reading this book and the very interesting premise really had my attention and what kept me listening to the fantastic audio book and flipping those pages. I thought this was a strong debut novel that many thriller lovers will enjoy to read.

This book started off grabbing my attention and keeping me turning the page. However, at some point it felt a little forced and too wordy, which pulled me out of the story. Although I initially didn't want to stop reading, I eventually had to force myself to keep reading. I do think that the characters were well written and that the suspense built nicely - some areas were just a bit overly written for me. This definitely is a matter of preference, I like edge of your seat thrillers with non stop action - that wasn't this book.
The ending was a bit far fetched for me as well. I think that the overall story was interesting, it just didn't completely deliver for me.

2.5 Stars

I’m late to reading this and my store is already selling these by the case load. Our customers are loving it and I see why. It isn’t making the top of my list like Willingham’s books but I was sucked in quickly and kept wanting to go back to it. I was walking into walls reading this while I got more tea. A great read for mystery fans even if it won’t be 5 stars.