Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This one is a bit hard to rate. I was expecting more of a haunted house mystery and thriller but it kind of ended up as more of a romance. I tried hard to stick it out because the book was quite confusing at times starting out.
It was ok but not a favorite.

This book had so much going for it! I loved the house. The plot was an interesting idea. The characters were all kind of mysterious, in an ominous way.

Here's where you're expecting a "but" and I don't want to pit the things that didn't work against the things that did. I'm just listing more things. The dialog was terrible. The main character was not someone I wanted to root for. (I didn't care what happened to her.) Several twists were quite obvious. I liked everything better before it was a metaphor.

There was a lot going on in this book it did get very confusing at times and I found it hard to follow! There was potential but I think the execution could have been better.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The House on the Lake by Holly Hill Mangin in exchange for an honest review. This book was like a really good mystery movie, where you are introduced to characters and scenery, but are wondering how it all fits together. As you go along you get clues and hints and even when you find out what's going on, do you really? Very good book, I really enjoyed it.

Loved this book! Full of twists and turns, Kept me in the edge of my seat the entire time. Awesome details and we'll written. Look forward to other books by this author!

Gorgeous cover…..The house on the Lake is so edge on your seat, teeth gnashing and fingers bitting spooky, but in a very good way! I was so hooked on the plot right from the first page and just wanted to find out how it all unfolds. This book is worth reading!.four stars.

I read this at the perfect time, I was desperate for a haunted house story and this perfectly fit the bill!

This book hooked me from the very first page. Eve Beckett arrives at a house on an island in a lake not quite sure where she is or how she got there. She knocks on the door until someone answers, and discovers that she had booked a room to stay there for a few days. Then her friend Lyn who could be her twin shows up and she discovers that the two of them had planned to visit. She had only planned on staying for a few days, but then the bridge to the island also needed repairs so the two of them were stuck.

The story is so well written and the clues are so subtly dropped here and there that it was quite a while before I had any inkling of what might be happening, and then I wasn't sure. Other than the couple who ran the place, there were also two young men on the island, one a guest and one who worked on the grounds.

Reading this book was like feeling your way through a fog with only occasional glimpses of what might be ahead, and I found it impossible to put it down. The ending was compelling and something I could never have predicted and I'm still thinking about it. I highly recommend this book for any reader who enjoys mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher BooksGoSocial for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

2.5⭐️

I think I went in thinking this was going to be more gothic horror with paranormal aspects. But it felt more YA with romance and a splash of paranormal. The plot sounded amazing: eye catching and mysterious. This was edgy and spooky. Sometimes the interactions between the characters were cringy and confusing.

Eh. I mean it was creepy in parts. I loved the concept of the moving rooms. I kinda figured out early on what was really going on. I liked the way that the end of life was interpreted.

So basically, the story starts with Eve Beckett waking up and having no idea where or how she got there. She knows she's deathly afraid of water and unfortunately the house she's in is surrounded by it. Eventually she figures out that she is at the Lakeview Manor (reputated to be extremely haunted) on the Isle of Esse.

Eve's twin sister, Lynn, is also here with her somehow. While trying to find answers to her circumstances she ends up finding out more than she bargained for about herself. It was interesting for sure!

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC for my honest review 🙂

Published March 19,2021

This book was insanely good. The story had me hooked early on. The plots in this book kept me interested until the very end. The creepy and gothic setting was great in keeping the story interesting. The cover also captures attention towards the book too.

Creepy thriller that I really enjoyed! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to this book!

I was very impressed with the atmosphere that was created and the sense of not knowing what was going on with the character. With all the great build up and atmosphere that was created I was a little let down with the conclusion and where the relationships ended up with Nick and Ari. It felt a little rushed in the end and wasn't explained enough for me. But overall still a very enjoyable read.

Honestly this one was fine. I feel like houses on lakes were everywhere this year and this one fell somewhere in the middle. Thanks to Books Go Social for the arc for my honest review.

The House on the Lake is debut paranormal mystery with extra suspense and spooky vibes.
The plots kinda slow and confusing at beginning but when we patience we can found satisfying conclusions at the end. This book take you into the journey through main lead experiences. I love the writing is good and successful describe the eerie atmosphere of the mystery. Not an easy read but totally worth to try.

Thank you Netgalley and BookGoSocial for provided my copy. My thoughts always my own.

Thanks NetGalley, Books Go Social and Holly Hill Mangin for an ARC to review.
Full of plot twists and unexpected turns set in a spooky Gothic setting, I absolutely enjoyed and recommend it.

The House on the Lake is set on the mysterious Isle of Esse, Lakeview Manor is allegedly just a 10 minute boat journey from the mainland.
The Isle of Esse has an ethereal quality, a mysterious air, a veil of mystery.

Eve wakes, feeling disorientated, seemingly confused by her surroundings. She’s further dumbfounded when her mirror twin Lyn appears. Eve has no memory of the events leading up to her waking up that morning. No idea of where she is, or how she arrived there.
Eve’s situation, and the house in general, somehow seem to be mirroring what she thinks she wants. Physically, the decor matches her personal taste, and the general bizarre and impossible nature of her surroundings and situation. It is an enigma.

Initially the book feels strange, in the sense that nothing makes sense for the first 50%. I truly hoped that the book was going somewhere, but I couldn’t imagine what would unfold, to make my puzzled brain understand. Eve’s lack of memory, while seemingly being happy to stay, when she has no knowledge of where and how, bewildered me.
I was genuinely intrigued, so eager to read something that would make the plot “click” in to place. As I kept reading, I started to have a realisation of where the book was going. Slowly two possible scenarios were unfolding in my mind, one of them was correct.

When you have finished reading, so many little elements will make sense. “Nick works on Systems Maintenance, Ari works on Project Completion”, now, that makes perfect sense. Also the book long mantra of “Relax, Reflect, Release”.

This book, without doubt, is a slow burn. If you want a fast pace book, full of action, this is not for you. This is a book that will make you think, it will make you work as you try to understand, just as Eve is trying to understand.
As the book reached it’s conclusion, I found it very moving. I can’t say why, as it would spoil the story for those yet to read it. My advice, if you are going to read this book, is to be patient, enjoy the flow of the book, and you will understand by the end. Maybe, like I was, you will be quite touched and moved too. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love paranormal stories. And this book hits all the requirements: suspense, ghostly spectres, a sullen, human man who captures the heroines attention, an eerie house. It's hard to capture the ambiance of a haunting but Ms Mangin has nailed it. I look forward to shivering through more of her books!
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion here is solely my own.

Perfect for spooky season. I wanted more of a ghostly story. There was some good twists and turns. Some predictable but a good story.

It was an engaging read, with some twist that were keeping me on my toes. I liked the characters and the story pace was good. I really enjoyed this book!