This one did not work for me. I liked the idea of a group of people going to a retreat. Unfortunately there were so many people that I couldn't really care about any of them.

I was so excited to get the chance to read this book. I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy from Net Galley and Atria Books, so a huge thanks to them.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The first is that I found it refreshing to have a newer take on the plot. I don't usually see a lot of full-on astrology in books and it was a new way to add in a lot of tension and push emotions over the edge. It was used creatively in the story and I appreciated that.

This story is told from the guests' and Rini's viewpoints. I normally don't care for books in this style, but this one worked for me. I think part of this is that the reader sees things from Rini's perspective, and from the synopsis, we know that she has an agenda for her guests. So when we see snippets from each guest's perspective, it ties into the overall story.

Another clever aspect I liked was that Rini has these little guest cheat sheets. It was a nice tie-in to the story, but as a reader, it also helped me get a reminder of the characters in the beginning. I usually do not enjoy stories with many characters introduced all at once since I sometimes forget who is who. These cheat sheets furthered the story and brought the characters back to the front of my mind.

The ending of this story was a bit of a letdown for me. It felt a bit too chaotic and I think had some secrets been revealed a little earlier, it would have helped the end feel more cohesive.

Regardless, I enjoyed this story a lot. I recommend this if you're into astrology, slow-burns, and domestic thrillers. This debut from Carinn Jade was well-executed and I'm excited to read her future works.

This was a good one but not great!
A lot of characters and POV’s to keep up with,
And the storylines were a bit confusing.
I feel like the “reveals” weren’t actually reveals, as most of them were very predictable. I did like the setting and the use of zodiac/astrology/“fate”. Very cool to see the character’s zodiac signs and star charts listed in the book.
Overall a quick, enjoyable 3 star read.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria/Simon Books for the advanced copy!

Anytime a book mentions a group of wealthy women, I know it's bound to be juicy. They seem to have more drama hidden behind a flashy outer shield than any other group. This group is no different!

I think this retreat sounds interesting and I'd definitely take friends and go on a retreat like this, but hopefully with a better outcome. You'll have to read it to know what I mean! It's worth it!

Entertaining suspense thriller.

The 4 couples and friends just wanted a fun weekend away and Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat sounds like a lovely place for them to hang out. Farrah and Joe, Aimee and Adam, Eden and Rick, and Margot and Ted are not that big into astrology but are quite surprised by some of the revelations they experience when Rini starts doing their readings. Lots of the usual secrets and lies that are just lurking and ready to bust out.

Sounds like many of these people have things they don’t want to come out and, what a surprise, Rini has her own agenda. And then, the hurricane.

This was fun and fast and quite predictable with all the couples at the retreat. The narrative alternates points of view so the reader knows what each is thinking and feeling. I liked some of the characters more than others and the conclusion was not really unexpected as I had anticipated that turn of events. I guess you can never really know anyone as well as you think or hope.

I don’t know much about astrology other than basic zodiac signs so that part was quite interesting and made me actually want to look up my own chart. Alas, no Rini here to interpret for me!

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked that the production had a large cast so as to make the voices and personalities distinct. I definitely liked some of the voices more than others. But, as always, the dual approach made me enjoy the novel that much more.

A juicy drama reminiscent of Lucy Foley with multiple POVs and an astrology undertone, The Astrology House was a really fun listen with a tremendous narrator!

This book honestly caught me off-guard. I didn’t think I would like as much I did, But it ended up leaving me utterly speechless. The writing is phenomenal, the multiple POVs constantly kept me on edge, and the character development was exceptional. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

3.5 rounded up.

Definitely a different thriller. Very creative storyline and unique for sure.

Didn’t particularly enjoy all the astrology references myself, but made it through. Told from multiple characters point of view, found it easy to follow though. Every character has flaws and isn’t really likeable in numerous ways. Definitely didn’t have me thinking about the characters or story when I wasn’t reading.

Enjoyed the big reveal and didn’t quite see it coming. Great twists at the end but the middle was a bit slow.

Thanks to netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

So I am quite sure that this book was made specifically for me!!! The setting, the D R A M A , multiple pov, the unreliable narrator(s), the astrology, the “locked in a creepy situation with nowhere to go” troupe!!! I really couldn’t have asked for a better book to get out of a horrendous reading slump!!! @carinnjade ‘s writing had me needing was more once I turned that last page!!!!

4.75⭐️

Thank you to @atriabooks for the gifted finished copy of this book and my newest prized possession 🥰

3.5 stars. I was intrigued by the premise of The Astrology House, an astrology themed retreat thriller? This sounds like a unique premise. Sign me up!
This story was told in a way that kept me curious to find out the secrets of each of the guests and our gracious host, Rini. While some small secrets slip through throughout the book, the big reveal doesn't come until the end. And while the details are shocking and horrible, other than one crucial scene, it lacked a feeling of suspense.
I thought this was a good debut from a new author and I think the potential is there for greatness in future works.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

I was actually disappointed with this book. I expected it to be better than it was. It dragged for the first 2/3 of the book and didn't really pick up until then last 1/3 of the book. The astrology portion was the most interesting portion of the book - the author is either really well versed in astrology or really researched it well.

“The Astrology House" by Carinn Jade is a captivating read with strong character development and a great setting. The book follows a group of friends embarking on a retreat at Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat. The retreat promises rest and relaxation, against the backdrop of an impeccably restored waterfront Victorian house and nightly astrology readings.
The characters, including Margot, her brother Adam, his wife Aimee, their friend Farah, and the mysterious astrologer host Rini, are well-developed and each harbors their own secrets and struggles. The setting of the retreat provides a picturesque backdrop for the unfolding drama and tensions among the characters.
As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and dark pasts come to light. Rini's ominous plan adds a layer of suspense and mystery to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Overall, "The Astrology House" is a compelling novel that expertly weaves together strong character development, a captivating setting, and a suspenseful plot. I was pleasantly surprised to find this a 5 star read for me!

First, I'd like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

The first thing that pulled me in with the astrology premise mixed within a thriller seemed highly intriguing so I went in with lots of excitement.

That said, I'm not sure where the author intended to go but it felt a bit, disjointed and rushed.

I was going to go into detail regarding this but decided against it. The story had to parts in my opinion, the first half felt interesting and mysterious, the second, felt chaotic (not in a good way) and rushed. Overall, I did find enjoyment of this book. The ending was...well, you would have to read it to understand. My biggest issue was the characters being flat. I'll stop there. I did like the writing style and would read from this author again. I just wish the other half of the book wasn't so stuffed with shock factors.

My Rating: 2 Stars

My love for rich people drama continues!

Let’s start with the concept…a secluded retreat house that focuses on astrology. Where do I sign up? I’ve always been fascinated by how accurate star charts can be and I loved the way that Jade took this and built a way to unravel the plot surrounding our group of characters.

In addition to the plot driving forward character creation, readers are also gifted a multiple POV experience. Jade allows the reader to connect with several characters one-on-one through these POV shifts, while also showing how these characters are seen through the eyes of each other. It’s through these individual narrations that we learn the deepest secrets that our characters hold. And let me just say…they’re going to come out and it’s going to be dramatic!

Jade keeps the pacing of the story to a methodical pace that allows for tension to ramp up slowly until our inevitable grand reveal. I think it’s important to not walk into this one expecting a super fast-paced thrill ride, but a story that focuses more on the psychological thriller grounding.

If you can keep up with all the characters and all the drama you are a better reader than I am. This book had me scratching my head and asking what they heck. I was highly disappointed.

You have Rini, who runs The Astrology House and the guests, Adam, Margot, Aimee, Ted, Rick, Eden, Farrah, Joe. Four couples who are expecting a weekend of relaxation. That is not what they get. If one is not fooling around with another's husband then another lusting after her best friend or one just wanting to get back close to her brother. It's like a cycle of self pitying spoiled children. Only they are adults and rich on top of it all.

Secrets and backstabbing is abundant. At least that is my take on things. One dies and others start the blame game. One ends up in rehab(they needed it badly). Spouses leave each other. It's like reading a soap opera.

I did not enjoy this book at all.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Atria for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

I'm also being very generous giving it 3 stars.

I found the astrology aspect interesting, but there were almost too many POVs for me to keep up with and I never really felt invested in any of the characters. If you’re super into astrology, read it. If you’re like me and just into good thrillers, maybe skip this one.

The writing and pacing of this book were excellent. I was hooked after the first chapter and devoured the book in 2 days.
I did find the plot to be too soapy and dramatic, I wish I had more of the thriller aspect. The characters were really unlikeable and I wasn’t particularly rooting for anyone until the last chapter. I’m not much into astrology but the way it was incorporated was fun.
It was an overall fun read and I’m thankful to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to the eARC.

I was so excited to receive an arc of this book, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. The premise was so interesting, but the execution fell a little flat. The characters were pretty interesting, and the plot intrigued me, but much of the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural. It made it very hard to keep my attention. Just not for me.

Loved it! I honestly could not put it down!

I’m not into astrology but am definitely open to it and interested. While it’s a big theme of the book and woven though the scenes, I didn’t feel like you had to be into it to enjoy this book. (However, if you are, I bet it’s a bonus!)

I loved the mystery, the intrigue and the whiplash from going back and forth of what is going to happen and who is going to do it. Just when I thought I knew, BAM! Twist I didn’t see. Great book, possibly some triggers for some but I loved it without having any history of these issues.

Gifted copy provided by Atria and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.