Weaving astrology into a thriller is such a fascinating concept and this author explored that concept to its full potential. I was pleasantly surprised by how in depth the astrological aspects were and how important those elements were to the larger mystery at hand. The cast of characters was infuriating, a sign of what a great job the author did in crafting them. It was a well-planned and tension filled mystery that also looked intimately at relationships and connection.

I grew up in Mattituck, a town very close to Greenport, where The Astrology House is set. A sister and brother and their partners and close friends head to Stars Habor Astrological Retreat for the weekend. Each of them is hiding secrets. But what about their hostess Rini? Yep, it’s not just her ability to read astrology charts that makes her quite an interesting character. She also knows something about a member or members of this group. It appears that some secrets may not survive this weekend.
I didn’t feel that any of these characters were particularly likable, but I did enjoy the astrology interspersed with the mysteries. Every time they mentioned Claudio’s, I smiled. Just because I’ve been there so many times and it was so nice reading a book that was set in a place that I love.
Another book that definitely prove to me that you don’t have to like the characters to enjoy the story.
This was quite a different and unique read, and I’ll definitely read the next book that the author writes.

A group of couples from Manhattan travel to a retreat a weekend of astrology based activities and readings. the couples each have issues in their relationships and all are facing some major decisions. After they've been there for a little while it seems it may not have been so random that they chose this getaway for their friend group and secrets will be exposed. I enjoyed this book thought it had some good twists and character development and was a definite page turner once it got going. I also really enjoyed the astrology aspect and the different readings always find that interesting. Rating this one 3.5/4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the literary cosmos, every so often, a star is born that dazzles with its brilliance. Carinn Jade's debut novel, "The Astrology House," is one such celestial phenomenon that lights up the firmament of mystery and suspense.

Set against the backdrop of the opulent Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat, Jade weaves a tale as intricate as the constellations themselves. The story orbits around Margot, a high-flying lawyer whose life is as tumultuous as the tides influenced by the moon. Seeking solace and a break from her grueling routine, she, along with a coterie of Manhattan's elite, retreats to the idyllic setting promised to offer rest, relaxation, and astrological enlightenment.

However, the serenity of the retreat is a mere façade, as undercurrents of tension ripple through the group. Each character is meticulously crafted, with layers that peel away like the phases of the moon to reveal their true selves. From Margot's estranged brother, Adam, to the enigmatic astrologer host, Rini, each harbors secrets that are as dark as a new moon night.

Jade's narrative is a cosmic dance of fate and free will, where every action is seemingly guided by the stars, yet it's the characters' choices that propel the plot forward. The retreat, with its nightly astrology readings and Instagram-worthy vistas, becomes a crucible for simmering resentments and long-held secrets that eventually lead to a shocking denouement.

"The Astrology House" is a reflection on the human condition, the search for connection, and the desire to understand one's place in the universe. Jade's prose is evocative, her pacing, masterful. She crafts suspense with the precision of an astrolabe, measuring each twist and turn until the reader is left breathless and yearning for resolution.

Carinn Jade's "The Astrology House" is a constellation of intrigue, drama, and suspense. It's a novel that promises to guide readers through the labyrinth of its narrative with the assurance of Polaris, leaving them starstruck and contemplative long after the final page.

A group of couples have reached a breaking point. All seemed to be unfulfilled in some aspect of their lives. Margot desperately wants a child, Aimee hides behind a perfect social media feed, Adam feels lost in his life, Farrah might be hiding a piece of herself. They take the opportunity to escape to Star Harbor, an astrological getaway where their charts will be read by their host, Rini. The guests are harboring secrets but so is the host. As a hurricane moves in their direction who will be the first to break the eery silence?

Every single character in this book is hiding something from someone. They are all delicately interwoven into the others' happiness and misery. Carinn Jade created a locked room setting that is set to go off with bombs. Everyone did it though, but which crime is the worse? Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Refreshing plto for a thriller with the background of astrology! I was immediately drawn in to the Agatha Christie trope of locked-room type story. Carinn Jade's first thriller was quite atmospheric and it started off strong for me but took awhile to get going and when it did, it fell flat. The characters were not likeable and each couple gathered at this bed and breakfast for their stay and astrological readings were gripped with inner battles and it was a bit confusing at times keeping them all in check. Again, good setting to place a thriler.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley.

At Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat, Margot and her friends seek solace from the chaos of their lives, only to find themselves entangled in a web of secrets, drama, and ultimately, murder. From the moment Margot books the weekend getaway, the stage is set for a whirlwind of events fueled by astrology and intrigue.

As the story unfolds, each character's secrets and hidden agendas come to light, weaving a tapestry of complexity that draws readers deeper into the narrative. Despite the ensemble cast, the author expertly navigates the dynamics between characters, ensuring that each one is distinct and memorable.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to keep readers guessing until the very end. Just when you think you've unraveled the mystery, another twist emerges, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew. The gradual development of the plot, coupled with well-timed revelations, ensures that the suspense never wanes.

While it may take a moment to fully immerse yourself in the story, once you're hooked, you'll find it impossible to put down. The seamless blend of character development, relatable hardships, and celestial intrigue makes for a captivating read that you won't soon forget.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Astrology House.

A small group of friends and family have gathered at Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat for rest, relaxation and wisdom.

Each person is harboring secrets and conflicts within and hopes the weekend will bring insight and how to move forward during a challenging point in their lives.

But, the host of the retreat, Rini, has something else in plan for her guests, and she's been waiting a long time for revenge.

If you're into astrology, you'll love this book.

I'm only vaguely interested in it, so much of the jargon went right over my head.

I liked the writing style and the POV from each character including their backstory, but I didn't like any of the characters.

As always in these types of books, the women are gorgeous, the men are handsome, but despicable, cheating rats (except for Rini's sort of boyfriend, Eric, the only sweet guy) and the women are victims of their husbands' philandering and arrogance.

I liked Rini's backstory, how her interest in astrology began, the dire prophecy about her future, her family background, and how she got started hosting retreats at her 'astrology' house.

I guessed all of the twists since I read A LOT of these books and nothing was a surprise.

The narrative isn't very suspenseful or thrilling, but more of a domestic drama.

Secrets are revealed, someone(s) does something bad, relationships are broken and mended, and life moves on.

In Carinn Jade's debut novel, a group of friends are looking for some rest and relaxation at the Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat. Readers are introduced to siblings Margot and Adam, their significant others, and friends who are all looking for something different out of the weekend. Host, Rini, has tailored the weekend to each guest's astrological chart and promises a vacation that no one will soon forget... including herself. I could not put this book down! Fans of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware, and Lucy Foley will thoroughly enjoy this read. I thought the concept of the book was unique and Jade went above and beyond in her astrological research. I look forward to reading future books by Jade as her storytelling is engaging and thrilling. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

Wow, this was a tangled web! Unfortunately there was just way too many characters to keep track to me. Three couples that all are main characters, plus a host, got really confusing. I liked the premise but spent too much time figuring out who was who. A little predictable in some ways, a few good twists in other ways. Loved the setting and concept. 3.5 stars.

The Astrology House is a vacation gone wrong mystery thriller with a large cast of characters and multiple POVs for you to see the story from. A group of wealthy people with various relationships to each other attend an astrology themed retreat to get away from their busy lives but during the retreat alliances shift and secrets are revealed that lead to someone's death.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in to this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. First of all I loved the astrological elements, I thought that it was extremely well done and it was clearly well researched. I really enjoyed that Carinn Jade was able to add in so much astrology without making it overbearing. Second, I really enjoyed the dynamics between the different people in the friend group because everyone interacted so differently with each person. I will say I wasn't a huge fan of most of the characters and I think they were written to be flawed but some of them seemed much more than flawed and were just plain unlikeable. I also feel that the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out given how many POVs we have but, Carinn Jade did an excellent job as this was her debut novel. I also really liked the twists and turns that this book included, although I did figure out several of the smaller twists as someone who is not necessarily new to the mystery/thriller genre, I wasn't able to guess the big twist and the reveal at the end completely shocked me which I really appreciated. One issue that I had with this book was that the pacing felt a bit off because for the first 80% of the book everything is relatively calm with just some minor drama in the friend group and then all of a sudden once you get to the 80% mark everything starts to pick up. Now I won't complain too much because I was hooked for the last 20% of the novel but I feel like the pacing could have been a bit better which is something I think that Carinn Jade will get better at as she continues to write novels.

Overall I think this book would be great for someone who is looking to get into the mystery &/or thriller genres especially if you are a more character focused reader. I can't wait for this to be released and I hope to read more from Carinn Jade in the future.

Trigger Warnings - Forced Abortion, Infertility/Pregnancy Struggles

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Margot brings her couple-friends group to a weekend astrology retreat for a relaxing getaway… that ends with a dead body.
Aside from the astrology twist, this is a pretty typical thriller - four couples in a confined space are forced to confront each other’s secrets. Some of their conversations were frustratingly petty, and I had no sympathy for the characters. They were all pretty terrible. I really liked the astrology angle - without it, this would have been an average read. It was fun to watch the characters sweat trying to interpret their readings.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy, in exchange for an honest review.

“Do humans act according to fate or free will?”

3.5 rounded.. I read a lot of psychological thrillers that have the same twists and the same basic premise- this is NOT that.

I really enjoyed the character developments, the relatable hardships and of course all of the astrology. I did take me a little while to feel the hook but once I got there I couldn’t stop reading! The twist completely caught me off guard.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from Carinn Jade in the future.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping and dramatic. At times, unable to put down! Loved the astrology themed retreat, I think that was a very unique spin on a basic trope. There is a trigger warning for a forced abortion. So this book is dark at times. A lot darker than I was originally expecting.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.

This was a fun twisty little thriller, set in the coastal B&B known as Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat, where astrologer Rini hosts groups looking to find the star-sun-moon-and-planet connections to their lives. Of course, this group has some secrets, and they're all trying to keep them hidden.

Did I enjoy this one? Absolutely. Was it anything ground-breaking? Not particularly. The big twists were pretty easy to guess ahead of time, and overall, it was just very predictable.

It was an entertaining read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. Three stars.

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

A riveting debut that seamlessly blends suspense, mystery, and astrology into a captivating narrative. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious astrology-themed retreat, The Astrology House delves into the intricate dynamics of a complicated friend group with some very big secrets.

Jade skillfully crafts a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. I loved the engaging plot, well-drawn characters, and luxurious, moody setting. Definitely worth a read!

I started off enjoying the book. The premise is good, a retreat with a good bit of astrology and looking into signs and fate. The further along I read the more bored I became. Nothing truly happened until about 80% in. The characters are almost insufferable. Margot has a weird obsession with her brother, more than just close siblings. I thought that might be the twist but, no spoilers, it wasn’t but seemed like it could definitely have been where it was headed. The twist and ending left a lot to be desired truthfully.

This was a book that leaves everything to be desired. The characters were unlikeable, the plot was basic, the twists were predictable and the ending left me with a shrug. Several points you are asking, "Why?" Not out of misunderstanding but confusion as to motivations and how things pan out. Overall it was entertaining enough, but I was mostly bored throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this arc.