The synopsis isn’t enough!!! You have to seriously dive into this book, and get ready because the main characters and the house are CREEPY AF!!! AF!!!! It’s most def a page turner, I couldn’t put this book down the twists in this book is enough to keep you going….. I’m happy I finished this book WAY before I went to bed….. because reading this in the dark was not my goal…. I’m that much of a punk you guys!!! Lol

Heard this is the authors debut and Omg Congratulations to her! This book is a win!

The stranger Upstairs is pretty creepy and will definitely need to be read with the lights on , a Halloween meets Mexican Gothic for a debut novel this was really good i can only imagine Lisa M. Marlin has planned for her next novel.

This was a quick, fun thriller that kept me on my toes! I did not know what the twist was going to be and was guessing until the very end. The main character was a little too chaotic and unreliable for me, but still really enjoyed the book! Would be a perfect spooky house read for this fall!

Creepy, unexpected and I was shocked this was a debut book. At times, you wonder if Sarah is an unreliable narrator and the mystery compelled me.

The beginning of this book had great spooky vibes perfect for this fall transitional time, however the last quarter of the book seemed all over the place. I appreciate the authors own personal story and how that shines in the book itself. For a debut novel this is not horrible and I am willing to give Matlin another shot in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an ARC copy.

Looking for a spine-tingling autumn read? Look no further! Dive into the chilling tale of a married couple whose relationship is on the rocks. In an attempt to mend their marriage and possibly turn a profit, they take the daring step of purchasing a house tainted by a decades-old murder. Their grand plan? To breathe new life into this eerie dwelling, document the transformation on social media, and rake in substantial profits. But little do they know, the house harbors secrets darker than their wildest nightmares.

"The Stranger Upstairs" is a story that doesn't hold back; it's packed with layers and surprises. First and foremost, the main character is intentionally unlikable, inviting us to delve into her complex psyche. As her tale unfolds, there are moments where you can't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her, understanding the traumas that shaped her into the person she's become. Despite her many flaws, the narrative is so compelling that it draws you in, leaving you eager to discover the ultimate outcome.

What sets this story apart is its innovative use of mixed media, incorporating newspaper articles, social media posts, and more, injecting a dynamic and fast-paced rhythm into the narrative. While it's classified as a thriller, it delivers genuine horror moments, creating an atmospheric and spine-tingling reading experience. Just when you think you've grasped the entirety of the plot, the epilogue throws a curveball, turning everything on its head! An absolute stunner, especially for a debut novel!

Please be sure to read the author’s note at the end of the book regarding her mental health struggles and lists of resources available for those struggling with their mental health.

The Stranger Upstairs will be published on September 12, 2023.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine, Bantam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

DNFed at 38%

This book was just not for me. The main character annoyed me and made it really difficult for me to read through her narration. The story was ok at first, but did not feel like it was progressing at all.

The Stranger Upstairs is the perfect atmospheric thriller to put you in the mood for spooky season. I have to say, I'm rarely surprised by outcomes or at the very least figure out some of the twists before they happen. Most of them I couldn't figure out and the one I did didn't really help me see the end coming. It's fast paced full of spooky vibes. Don't miss the author's note at the end where she talks about mental health.

In many ways, there's not much to like in this debut novel; certainly not the main character, Sarah Shade, or her meek husband Joe, or anyone in the small but upitty Australian town who are, shall we say, less than welcoming to newcomers. And for sure, Black Wood House, the broken-down old house Sarah and Joe purchased - dubbed the "Murder House" because of what happened there years ago - is less than inviting to all but the most desperate would-be homeowners (readers, however, can be pretty sure it will play a central role - probably a horrific one at that - in this book).

And of course, that's exactly the case - and that's what makes the book as a whole quite likable. The couple are hoping that new identities and a new-to-them house will help them escape secrets in the place from which they came and turn a tidy profit after Sarah and Joe fix it up. But thanks to a not-so-forthcoming realtor, they slowly learn the hard way that the old house - built in 1889 - is harboring more than a few secrets of its own (put another way, things that go bump in the night tend to do it loud enough to wake the dead).

To make matters worse, all is not well between Sarah and Joe. Sarah, a therapist and successful media influencer and blogger, hopes that getting rich from the house flip will bring her closer to Joe, who for the most part isn't having any part of it. Gradually, readers learn what happened in the couple's earlier years and watch Sarah's not-so-gradual descent into madness as the house takes on a life of its own with a Stephen King-like flair.

It's a not totally unfamiliar story concept, but it's cleverly written with plenty of twists and turns that made me wish I could finish it in one day (as it was, I managed it in two by postponing dinner by half an hour or so). The ending? Again, a twist - but one that wouldn't have been satisfying done any other way. Loved it, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. For sure I'll be watching for more from this very talented author!

What I was expecting from Matlin's debut was a psychological/horror that would make me afraid to sleep in my house alone; what I read was underwhelming and a tad messy.

Social media influencer and best-selling self-help author Sarah Slade and her husband, Joe, purchase and move in to the notorious Black Wood House, home (no pun intended) of a double-homicide years prior. Sarah expects the renovations to be easy and to make a quick profit; however, she encounters forces both external and internal that seem to want the opposite...

Overall, I think that there was a lot of promise in the story that ultimately was unfulfilled. While I am a huge fan of unreliable narrators, the protagonist was so terrible/unlikable that I was turned off after the first chapter. Honestly, NONE of the characters were likable, and I found myself racing through the text to finish (thankfully, it is a quick-paced read).

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first time reading a book by the author and she doesn't disappoint!
This is a creepy thriller that is fast paced and will keep you guessing!
Thanks Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book!

I was really excited for this book as I realize I've been picking more and more books out by the colors and covers of books and this was is nice and bright! It will definitely stand out on book shelves everywhere.

This is a great fall read- haunted mansion, spooky/gothic vibes and an unreliable narrator. This was a really solid debut novel and there were quite a few plot lines that I wasn't sure if they were going to all wrap up or tie together. For the most part, they all were tied together although I still do have a couple questions. Pacing was okay- some of the middle parts really dragged on, but it can easily be read in one sitting.

This is definitely an author I will be adding to my TBR.

This book was soooo good and kept me guessing the entire time. Ugh, I am so sad with how it ended but still, wow! I hate spoilers and don't want to ruin anything by even trying to hint at what happens so I'm not going to say anything more but....get this book. It's soooo good.

*I thank NetGalley and this author for the opportunity to read this book for free. That in no way changed my opinion of this book.*

Wow! If you have an upstairs be caution reading this cause you will never feel the same about going up there! Must read

What happens when a social media influencer, self-help author and therapist buys a murder house? An eerie and tense thrill ride.

I really enjoyed this story and think it’s one of the better thrillers I’ve read. The plot hooked me from the beginning.

What I liked: The twist ending — I know it’ll be polarizing for many people, but it worked for me. The fast pace. The way this genuinely scared me (I told me husband I had goosebumps multiple times while reading this). The gothic atmosphere and house as a character. Lastly, the sense of disorientation and questioning of reality that gripped me throughout the book.

What I disliked: I thought the writing was a bit repetitive and juvenile. I didn’t feel like I wanted to root for the main character, either. There were also a few plot points that didn’t get wrapped up by the end and that left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Overall, a really solid and spooky book that’s perfect to pick up for the Halloween season!

Thanks to Bantam Books, an imprint of Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!

(Review for Netgalley)

OMG WOW. Just wow. I had NO idea how this book would end and I never in a million years would have guessed how it did end!

Join Sarah and her husband Joe as they buy a murder house, one that had a murder occur in it obviously. But quickly things start falling apart: her marriage, her job, and her house. Is it her going crazy or is it the house?!

Even after reading the story, I’m still unsure! Is it the house? Or is it her?!

You’ll just have to read to find out! You won’t be disappointed!

This was a book that had me hooked from early on! There was so much mystery and questions I needed answers to! And the only way to get them was to keep reading! I loved the way the story was told between present and past timelines. I enjoyed the aspects of the social media and news article! I’ll definitely be suggesting this book!

Thanks to Ballantine for the eARC.
This book is highly bingeable and has the perfect amount of creepiness for someone who wants a little bit of a haunted house story without it being too graphic or terrifying. I binged this in an evening, and it's an easy fall read. Sarah was a bit of a mess, so I had fun reading to see what was actually going on with the murder house she bought. As her time in the house progressed, things started to become somewhat scary and also odd. I liked how the author created a lot of suspense through the interspersed news articles. It kept me guessing and wondering exactly what was going on. My only complaint is that I am so over the drunk, unreliable narrator in books. However, I do understand to an extent why it was used. I will say the ending left me a bit shocked and it was satisfying. Perfect story for this time of year.

This one got me!! I was terrified of what was going on with the attic in this atmospheric thriller. I must be honest when it started out...I thought what is wrong with the main character? I never did like her, but I kept reading it because this house was the main character. Another turn-off was the language leaving me thinking Why is she cussing so much? It did get better or I was too scared to notice it. The book is creepy and my anxiety was as high as my fear.
Black Wood House has set empty for 40 years for a reason. Its former inhabitants Bill Campbell and his wife Susan were quite the topic in a grisly murder-suicide. Their young daughter escaped her father's attack with a hammer and hasn't been seen since.
The new owner is Sarah Slade and her husband Joe. She works as a social media influencer and bought the murder house with her successful self-help book money to blog her remodeling experience. She didn't expect the neighbors to hate her or the unusual incidents the builders experience. When her husband takes a hiatus from her life, she wakes every night to see her cat, Reaper, staring at the attic as she hears footsteps above. Threatening notes appear throughout the house, information of a previous owner Amanda missing and strange encounters with the neighbors have her rethinking her stay.
As Sarah spirals out of control, she makes a fool of herself as her well-crafted lies begin to peel back like the wallpaper with eyes she is scared of. I'm screaming to get out of that house, while she nonchalantly sleeps in the bedroom with the blood stained floor!!!! This was a dark thriller that reminds me of a Stephen King book with its bizarre and Gothic technique.
I loved the inspirational message from the author about her struggle with mental illness and how writing with encouragement became a healing journey. Kudos, Lisa M. Matlin, for you are a magnificent writer!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this exceptional ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will not forget this one.

Holy s*#! This book. The twists! Damn. It’s one of the best creepy mystery/thrillers I’ve read in a long time. You know what totally solidified that 5th star? The author’s note. Mad respect for her. I am a fan for life. Can’t wait to see what she writes next