The Stranger Upstairs—Lisa M. Matlin

One night, a man took a hammer and smashed his wife’s head in. He tried to do the same to his daughter, but she managed to escape. He took his own life later, but the residents of Beacon say he’s still haunting Black Wood House to this day. The rest of the town won’t go near it—but Sarah Slade? Therapist influencer and author of a best-selling self-help book? Not only does she buy Black Wood, but she plans to live there until she’s able to sell it. It’s the perfect plan. What could go wrong?

It’s not long for Sarah to realize it’s everything. The house has too many problems, the town hates her, and her marriage and career are falling apart. Convinced the house is alive and the rest of the town hopes it kills her, Sarah quickly comes to terms with the fact that she’s all on her own. History will repeat itself, whether Sarah’s ready for it or not…

So, right off the bat: I really loved this book! It was chilling, creepy, and twisty—an absolute mind-bender in the best way. The things that were most intriguing about the plot were the mystery of the house, the town/town’s reaction to Sarah’s situation, her past, and ultimately all the little secrets she uncovered. Also, the way it was written—as in, the whole convoluted-ness of it all—I thought it was so well done that I didn’t know if what I was reading was all in Sarah’s head or if it all actually happened to her. Matlin did an amazing job at keeping me guessing. She also has a knack of capturing what mental illness feels like. Thought it was like one long fever dream that I loved sweating out. An absolutely fantastic thrill ride. Highly recommend!

Ok, so this review is going to be a little different, I'm not going to write a summary, there will be no rehashing of events, just straight up why you need to read this book.

I loved it, everything about it, it's dark and creepy and so twisted that it had me hearing every little noise in my house the entire time I was reading it.

There is so much depth to the story, so many twists and turns, and our characters are so well-developed that I kept forgetting that this was Lisa Matlins first book. There were little things here and there that made me think of some of my favorite books and authors and it was brilliant.

I know this one doesn't come out until September but I had to put my thoughts to paper while they were still fresh in my mind. I will be posting a full traditional review closer to the publication date.

If you're looking for a psychological thriller that will have you jumping, yelling, and begging for more this is the book for you, put it on your TBR now because this book is fantastic and I can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

I can honestly say this book gave me the same feel and the same sense of wonder I had after I read my first Stephen King novel, I didn't think I'd ever find another book that gave me that feeling, but this one did.

Awesome. Hooked me from the first chapter. Great plot, characters, storyline, everything. So so good. Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This whole book I was trying to figure out how it would end and did not guess the ending at all. The house as a character was amazing and I love the thought that house keep a memory. Excellent ending that kept me guessing until the last page.

First of all thank you so much for the ARC. I am so grateful to have been able to read this book. Second of all this is a 4/5 read for me. This book is SO atmospheric and uncomfortable. I loved that a lot. The more I read though the more it felt like a Darcy Coates novel. But that's not a bad thing. Her books are really great. And this book is really great.

This author did an amazing job making you feel how the main character feels. From the excitement about moving in to when things went array. How ever the character felt you felt it. And I always love a story about a therapist who needs their own therapist. Though this one made me worry if my therapist actually likes me or not.

I read this book in a span of a week. Which is the longest its taken me to read one book but my daughter was home on spring break. So how long it took wasn't because the book was boring. I hope this book will get an audiobook companion though. So when it comes out I can listen to it while I'm running errands and or cleaning my home.

This is an excellent debut novel! Instagram influencer and wellness author Sarah Slade buys a “murder house” with plans to renovate it for content. The house seems to draw the dark energy from her failing marriage and hidden secrets. Soon Sarah doesn’t know what is reality and what is just her imagination.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.

Let me start by saying I will not consider this as a thriller book.

The stranger upstairs is divided into two parts, for the most part it was good but I found myself bored at times. To be honest the way the plot ended was different than I expected and it was disappointing, this book had so much potential.

I would definitely recommend it to someone who's looking for a physiological thriller book.

I was hooked from the first chapter! What an amazing debut book! You really created big shoes to fill for your next book!

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of "The Stranger Upstairs". Is it a mystery thriller or horror story? Lisa Matlin’s pulse-pounding debut novel keeps the reader guessing and on the edge of your seat. I absolutely loved this novel. I couldn't stop reading it and even dreamed about it! I can't wait to see what else Lisa M. Matlin has for us next! Be sure to add this to your TBR pile until. it hits selves on September 26, 2023!

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was different and unique and has an unreliable narrator but not in the classic meaning of that. It's hard to say much without revealing a lot but the plot goes back and forth with whether it's horror or not. I really couldn't be sure and felt the anxiety that the main character felt as her life fell apart. It was creepy and atmospheric.
It started a little slow for me but as it picked up, I couldn't put it down. There were a lot of themes explored in this story- marriage, family relationships, social media, mental illness, job identity...it's a great read!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Slade is not your typical buyer. Most people would never consider purchasing an infamous murder house for the sake of renovating it, but Sarah is no stranger to taking risks. As a therapist and self-help author, Sarah sees her purchase of Black Wood House as a unique opportunity to blog about the restoration process and distract herself from her failing marriage.

However, Sarah's dream renovation quickly becomes a nightmare. Her plans for custom avocado wallpaper and a lucrative profit are overshadowed by the disdain of her new neighbors and her estranged husband still sleeping on the couch. And despite the builders' attempts to mask the home's gruesome past, Sarah's discoveries of threatening notes, bizarre accidents, and unexplained noises confirm that something is very wrong with Black Wood House.

As Sarah's sense of reality begins to slip away, she delves deeper into the secrets of the house, peeling back the curling wallpaper to reveal the truth. But with each new revelation, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House is far from over, and her life spirals out of control.

Most would run from a home with such a sinister past, but for Sarah, it's too late to turn back now.

Captivating story about an unstable narrator who moves into a home with a sordid past, and unwelcoming neighbors. Oh and the house may be haunted? Loved how this story unfolded, and it was delightful.

The writing style made the reader feel as chaotic as the main character- in the best way possible.
The characters were not necessarily loveable, but I was still invested in them and the story.

3.5-3.7/5 probably; I just finished the book and can't quite settle on a proper rating lmao.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was really immediately entranced by this book - the writing drew me in and I absolutely LOVED the psychological aspect to this, and how we could see our main character slowly unravel. You could see so clearly how she was devolving with each chapter, and I thought the intermediate news articles were super fun to read! It was the ending that kind of threw me off - without giving it away, in the final chapters I could tell what was about to happen, and I didn't really want them to.

I think this book tried to be three different things at once, almost? Like sometimes it felt like a paranormal horror, other times a psychological thriller, other times a mystery with a giant conspiracy plot. I think any of the three would work really well on its own - or even two of them together! - but with the amount of pages I don't think all three worked, as some elements to each had to be sacrificed to tell this story. All in all, though, I really did enjoy this book for the majority of my reading experience - I honestly paused a show today because I was so eager to get back into this book, so I'd say it's still worth it even though I personally wasn't a huge fan of the ending.

I was absolutely blown away by "The Stranger Upstairs" I did not initially have high hopes, due to the fact I have read a few other thrillers with the same title. I DEVOURED this book in one evening. Beautiful cover, well written and kept me at the edge of my seat.

Sarah Shalte is a best-selling self-help author and therapist. When she sets her sight on an old house that was the crime scene for a horrific murder 40 years ago, Sarah thinks it will be fun to renovate it and flip (not to mention boost her social media engagement and following!). Her husband and her cat join her on this leap of faith, but they do not feel comfortable in this stuffy, creepy, and windowless house. Despite warnings from the small community, and the unease her partner and cat feel, Sarah wants to continue on with the project, even when her gut starts telling her to RUN.

I don't want to give anything else away, but I highly recommend picking up a copy of this for any avid thriller readers!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on my toes and kept me wanting to see what was going to happen next. I liked the characters and the story.

Thank you SO much to Random House Publishing Group Bellatine for granting a wish and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You know a writer is talented when the book gives you MINUTES long goosebumps and chills… I had to have my pets around me while reading home alone! This novel read so smoothly, I can easily see it being adapted as a series or movie in the future.

Lisa M. Matlin did a wonderful job at creating a tangible tone throughout the novel that jumped off the page and bled into the real world every time I sat to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dark, atmospheric mysteries, and who loves to be kept on their toes until the very last page.

Also, I am obsessed with the cover art. It is what drew me to the book at first, it's absolutely beautiful.

This ending had me awake at night!

Social media influencer and bestselling author Sarah Slade has just purchased Blackwood house, a 'murder house" in a coveted neighborhood that she and her husband Joe are planning to renovate. The previous owners of Blackwood are buried in their backyard after the husband murdered his wife and went after their child before committing suicide. Despite these grim details, Sarah is committed to making a profit!

As she begins the remodeling process, her life seems to unravel—we learn more secrets about Blackwood, as well as Sarah’s past.

I typically do not like an unreliable narrator, however in this debut novel by Lisa Matlin, she does a fantastic job with this. I truly enjoyed this thrilling and at times chilling tale.

Thank you to Bantam Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

As someone who primarily reads thrillers, this book did not disappoint. I felt attached to these characters and didn’t want the story to end. I thought I had it figured out, but there were so many great twists. Loved this one.

The Stranger Upstairs
A Novel
by Lisa M. Matlin
The book was just ok for me. It was Sarah a (self-help and therapist) who NEEDED to buy Black Wood House makes for great blog content. I would have not bought the house or spent a day inside it. Of course, Sarah did. We all know how that always ends.