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

4.5 ⭐️ “A brutal murder can slash the price by as much as 50%. But would YOU do it?” Black Wood house is a Victorian gothic located in a tight-knit community where a murder-suicide took place 40 years ago. Sarah, an aspiring social media influencer, believes renovating Black Wood will solve all her problems- her marriage, her blog, and her finances. After starting the renovations, strange things start to happen and Sarah begins to question everything.

Don’t let the pretty cover fool you- this book is creepy and dark. This book gives some similar vibes to the TV series The Watcher and Riley Sager’s Home Before Dark, but is still a unique story. It is so well written and suspenseful. It captivated me from start to finish. When strange things start to happen, Sarah begins to question everything. At night, she can hear footsteps upstairs and she receives notes with details that no one else can know. She begins to spiral out of control, and the ending will surprise you. You would never know this is a debut novel. I look forward to seeing what the author writes next. This is the perfect chilling thriller to add to your spooky season TBR.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an ok read for me. It was relatively fast paced and an interesting take on the haunted house trope, though I think the big, dark secret following Sarah was over dramatic. The author could have just laid it all out there instead of dragging it along as a mystery, then focused more on current events. Sarah was also a super annoying mc, and I understand that she wasn’t necessarily supposed to be an upstanding person, but it’s hard to get invested when you don’t really enjoy being in the mc’s head!

The Stranger Upstairs
Lisa M. Matlin
Comes out 9/12/23
Random House Publishing Group
☆☆☆☆☆

Sarah Slade is a therapist and self-help writer. She decides to buy and renovate a house, but not just any house. One where someone was murdered. Sarah figures she can make a profit while having some interesting blog content. Bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic confirm there is something very wrong in that house. Can Sarah figure out what is going on, or will the house add another victim to its list?

What a killer story! I had so many suspicions, and while I was right up to a point, I certainly didn't nail it. Twists like that are the BEST! The details and elements that helped this book come together were fantastic. Seeing how Sarah's experiences influenced and altered her was so interesting. The writing style was wonderful, I was intrigued from beginning to end! I will absolutely buy a physical copy for my shelf, and I highly recommend this stunning thriller!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review this book before it comes out on September 12th! Definitely give this book a shot if you enjoy thrillers.

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Book Review!
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M Matlin
I received this book from @randomhouse and @netgalley for review.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It creeped me out in the best way possible! I had to stop reading it at night in bed home alone. It was a daytime read for me for sure!! Lol
Ask yourself….would you buy a murder house? Would you sleep in the bedroom where the murder happened and still contains the bloody evidence? Answer??? NOPE!
There is so much going on it’s hard to put in words without spoiling something. Just don’t trust anyone!
Read this one!

#readthis #readthisbook #netgalleyreview #netgalley #thestrangerupstairs #randomhouse #kindle

I really enjoyed this one. First of all, the cover, bright colors for a thriller, who would have thought? Usually I dislike unreliable narrators, but I kept reading, I kept wanting to believe her, I was still on her side. And turns out for a good reason. The ending was real, it could have happened, it wasn't just some stupid excuse! And best off, I didn't see it coming at all because most thrillers are just dumb made up ghosts or crazy people. The only thing was the pacing was a bit off, I got a little bored in the middle it got a little slow and redundant, but I stuck with it and am glad I did.

Sarah Slade is on the path of re-discovery and takes this opportunity to buy an old house which was also the crime scene from a brutal murder. Sarah's goal is to blog the renovations and hopefully make money and expand her reach as an influencer. However, as soon as she and her husband move into the house weird things start happening. They start receiving weird notes and unexplainable events in the house. Is this a sign Sarah should not have moved int- and will she actually survive?

It's rare that I read a book and get scared. However, this book truly gave me haunted house or scary movie vibes. While I found the characters all somewhat unlikable I did enjoy this book.