I really loved the writing for this book, it was gripping and didn't let you put it down.

I started reading this as a break from happier books and WOW, it kept me on the edge of my seat and I was impressed straight to the end.

Sadly, One House Left didn’t quite hit the spot for me. The characters felt underdeveloped, which made it difficult to care and connect to them. I personally felt there were too many secrets and mysteries that dragged on and were explained far too late. I did find the twist at the end clever and original, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to revive my interest in the characters.

This paranormal thriller meets horror novel gave me mixed vibes. After reading a few rave reviews, I was expecting something more mind-blowing, and honestly, until I reached the last third, I wasn’t sure what the hell I was reading. There were too many mysteries, unanswered questions about the hiding boy, why the entire family was running away, and why a group of kids was so obsessed with facing urban legends as if they were chasing their own deaths!

I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, who weren't layered enough and left me wondering why Nate fell for Max and what made her so special. Later, we learn more about the trio: Max has a soft spot for a couple next door, a wife suffering from dementia, and her devoted husband who used to give free candies to her when she was a kid. We also learn that Tyler is trying to cope with the high expectations of his crowded family, struggling to decide between sports and science, while Seb is still haunted by his family loss, grieving his big brother who died in a car accident in front of his eyes.

As for Nate, who might be the hero of our story, we know he comes from a broken family that might be running away from something related to Murder Road, where tragedies have struck the place several times, connected with the urban legend of the hiding boy, as they all suffer from insomnia. Why is the entire family dysfunctional? Why does Nate, a shy, skinny, introverted 16-year-old boy, do everything to avoid befriending three teenagers who are adamant about turning their group into a quartet to include him?

Until the last third, question marks were hanging over my head like bubble balloons. I felt like I was taking a long walk in the dark, trying to gather pieces, and I also hoped for some twist that would make this slow-burn horror path more interesting. There were some juicy parts, like the news columns found in the locker and the quartet’s urban legend explorations, that hinted at something eerie about Nate lurking sinister things. But when I reached the last third, with not-so-unexpected twists and explanations, along with some more semi-twists thrown our way, I thought, okay, things started to get interesting, and I also enjoyed the irritating conclusion that fit well with the entire nature of the plotline.

Overall, this book was slow-paced, and the characters didn't evoke much sympathy, but the writing style was unique, and the execution of events was refreshing, smart, and totally different from other books in the same genre. There were no clichés or stereotypical incidents that make you roll your eyes. That's why, even though I got a little impatient at first, I continued to read and tried to come up with some theories. Luckily, I couldn't predict the main twist, which increased my enjoyment.

That’s why I’m rounding up from 3.5 to 4 stars for reading something different and unexpectedly smart. I'm looking forward to reading more works by the author. The refreshing writing style absolutely intrigued me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Such an awesome thriller! There were so many twists and turns, and it kept my attention the whole time. Definitely pick this one up!

I've been reading Vincent Ralphs book ever since the debut. The writing in this one is the perfect example as to why. The opening chapter is what you can expect the whole way through.