What initially drew me to this book was the cover, I haven't delved too much in the world of horror so my expectations were for a slow paced book that would take a while to catch my interest. I was completely wrong about that.
The book kicks off with a YA horror vibe, reminiscent of the 1980s, featuring fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved in a small town plagued by mysterious disappearances. The first section reminds me of the Stranger Things vibe, the narrative takes a dramatic turn in part two, set fifteen years later. I don't want to give too much away but that was a completely unexpected change.
Part three is where Nesbo masterfully transforms the tale into something entirely different, leaving readers like me questioning if I truly grasped the intricate narrative. I found myself enjoying the latter half more than the beginning, revealing a preference for the unexpected and imaginative plot developments. I don't think that the story could have had any other conclusion, as confusing as it was it fit the entire plot line.
The book's division into three sections, each offering a different perspective from Richard's point of view, adds to the suspense. While the horror elements are inventive and the pacing keeps the storyline moving, there are times when the reader doesn't know what is real and what is not.
In conclusion, "The Night House" delivers a nostalgic, nightmarish horror adventure with a cleverly layered plot. Despite some reservations about character depth and narration, the book succeeds in providing a gripping and imaginative experience, for those seeking a unique horror ride with an unreliable narrator and a blend of reality and fiction, Jo Nesbo's venture into the supernatural is worth exploring.

Y’all this started off SO strong!
And then it just got weird and not in a good way.

Like I’m not even sure how to review a book I wasn’t sure I could rate.

I did end up liking it sort of because it gave me Goosebumps vibes (which from a nostalgia stand point you’d think I’d be all for but like only rewatching Goosebumps like Saturday morning cartoons feeling of nostalgia is what I love not something maybe trying to be it? Does that make sense)

It also felt like the book was trying to be 3 different things all at once and instead of it flowing and making sense I was utterly confused like I was reading the same book but 3 different versions of it at the same time and I was like wait what? What’s happening who’s who? What’s real what’s not? It just didn’t click for me.

This wasn’t what I was expecting at all and I’m kind of bummed about it. 😕
It’s getting a 3 and not a 2 because I really did like the beginning of the book a lot. Just the second half didn’t do it for me.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The cover is beautiful and the story seemed intriguing. Just didn't live up to the hype for me.

I’m a little late on this review. It took me a lot longer than intended to get through reading this book. I started off liking it until the weird turn it took had me set it down several times. I finally picked it back up and finished it.

I was very excited for the 1980s nostalgic horror feel that we’re immediately thrown in to in part one. I honestly feel like each of the three parts felt like three different books and maybe that’s why it threw me through such a loop. I enjoyed part one and part three but together? I’m not so sure.

I usually LOVE these type of twists but it was just too frustrating here.

I really liked this book! I love Jo Nesbo's books! This was a great scary book. Phone booths in the middle of nowhere, scary houses and more!

Eh this book just did not keep my attention. It lacked something for me and I just couldn’t not finish it.

I was very excited to read this story. And it did not disappoint. The plot and characters were just how I imagined them as I read the book. Definitely would be gifting copies to a few of my friends.

⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 • 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧.

First of all, I absolutely love this cover so much (it’s so creepy). Oh, where do I even start with this book… I wanted to love it so badly, I really did. The premise had me intrigued and the very first chapter had me hooked.

I was so certain I was going to enjoy this book. I specifically saved it for the Halloween season as the cover just gave off those vibes, but oh man, this book disappointed me.

The story is split between three different parts, I got so annoyed and overwhelmed by the end of the book. I can see where this author would’ve got inspiration from RL Stine… but wow, the characters in the book were so intolerable to read about.

Richard Richard Richard, I don’t think I’ve been so annoyed with a character this much in a while. Part 1 was honestly the only interesting part… I was expecting it to pick up after the at, but unfortunately, the next two parts were not good… like at all.

I really wanted to love this book and I honestly hope this author will write something I end up enjoying in the future, but unfortunately, The Night House was not a pleasant or enjoyable read.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Knopf for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

Wow! This was my first Jo Nesbø novel but it certainly won't be my last. This book feels reminiscent of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, but in a more "grown-up" sense. The story reads in a very cinematic way, which I think would grab a more youthful audience with it's pacing. All in all, a spookfest I'd gift to my nieces or nephews happily.

I was so excited to read The Night House but unfortunately it went downhill for me. I ended up DNF’ing it. I couldn’t get into it all

This was a clever setup. I can't say much or it will spoil the fun, but I was surprised with the twists. The main character in part 1 is a child, so the story does read a little YA while being listed as adult fiction. Definitely horror and a little gory at times, but kept me wondering where it was headed.

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I understand the format with the three sections of the book, but the book could have ended after part one. This felt like it wanted the depth and complexity of Shutter Island, but it missed the mark. I liked the beginning scene happening so quickly and setting up the book for an intense horror, but it went downhill afterwards.

I have read from Jo Nesbo previously. This was a departure from his other books. He used several interesting ideas that I enjoy, such as a book within a book. The story took on a horror film feel with supernatural elements that were a surprise. I liked the ideas behind the twists that kept me guessing throughout. The only real negative is the use of various mental illness as a reason for violence. For instance, schizophrenics are far more likely to die from suicide or some other reason than to commit heinous acts of violence towards others. Even when delusional or paranoid, they are rarely targeting the hostility at others, and certainly not in an organized way.. To use this as a trope is misleading about these diseases and a bit lazy.
#TheNightHouse #NetGalley #KnopfPantheonVintageandAnchor

This book was amazing. I don’t even know how to write a proper review. If you love Stephen King and all of his weird horror filled excitement, this book is for you!
This was my first Jo Nesbo read and I am so excited to find more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Jo Nesbo, for this advanced copy of The Night House! This is an honest and voluntary review.

1 star!

The cover of this book is absolutely stunning but unfortunately this is what the book mostly has going for it. The main character Richard was so absolutely annoying and he felt so young in a way that very much ticked me off. Then the twist came in and absolutely turned me off - why are we still using mental illness as a twist???? - really just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I made it about 40% through this story before I DNF:’d. I really couldn’t tolerate the main character. He said rude things, but he was also just kind of mean and obviously I assume he gets better but I couldn’t deal with it alongside the vividly described gore. I know it’s horror, but gore and gruesomeness are not my jam, sorry.

In the aftermath of a tragic house fire claiming his parents, fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved finds himself in the remote town of Ballantyne, labeled an outcast. When a classmate mysteriously vanishes, suspicion falls on Richard, who claims a malevolent telephone booth in the woods is to blame. Only Karen, another outsider, believes him, urging Richard to uncover the truth. As he follows clues to an abandoned house in the Mirror Forest, eerie voices torment him with ominous prophecies. 'She's going to burn. The girl you love is going to burn. There's nothing you can do about it.' With another disappearance, Richard battles dark magic consuming Ballantyne, struggling to prove his innocence and preserve his sanity.

The narrative plunges into horror as Richard grapples with his new life in the small town, haunted by unsettling events reminiscent of a true horror story. As a fan of 'Night of the Living Dead,' Richard's experiences echo scenes from the film, amplifying the eerie atmosphere. For those seeking a thrilling and chilling read, this book unfolds like a fun, scary tale perfect for Halloween.

Kind of confusing and hard to follow, but maybe that's the point with the unreliable narrator. The story never really pulled me in and didn't have a satisfactory conclusion. If this was billed as horror, I must respectfully disagree.

Exciting to see Jo Nesbo dive into horror. The book was a quick and fast read which had elements of horrific children’s stories, Frankenstein, Alan Sillitoe, Ken Kesey, Stephen King, R L Stine, and Dennis Lehane in it.

I finished reading this book and I'm still reeling from the experience. The story follows a young narrator who witnesses terrifying and inexplicable events - a phone that eats flesh, friends turning into insects, and a mysterious figure pulling the strings. I was on the edge of my seat as the protagonist's grip on reality faltered and the truth began to unravel. Will they find the truth before it's too late? I couldn't put it down - a chilling and unforgettable read!