If you’re looking for a found family, cozy fantasy, you’ve come to the right place. Saika is grieving the loss of her beloved sister and finally decides to honor her wishes about being planted as a tree in a place called Ash Gardens. There she finds a job and slowly starts to realize that she’s not the only one with issues. I enjoyed this sweet story! I will say, though, that some of the relationships fell a little flat…they just seemed to develop a little bit quickly for my taste. Still, Kay Synclaire is very talented, and I look forward to her next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ezeekat Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

CW: There are a couple of sexual situations in here, but it’s kept relatively clean.

A good story about many kinds of grief, with magic and way too many secrets, ruined by a really off-putting and weirdly written romance. The "romantic" interest is cruel and disdainful, for literally no reason, like a school bully. It's instant and gross; this person is out here negging the main character by belittling her name before introductions are even complete. Literally interrupting the introduction to get in some insults. What a charmer! An enemies to lovers thing is fine, but if the enemies part is just one character hating the other on sight based on their outfit, then purposefully endangering them several times for kicks, I'm thoroughly bewildered by the lovers part. This is not some legitimate grievance, a misunderstanding, or an inital incompatibility that has to be overcome, this is just a deeply unpleasant person with no explanation ever provided.

You guys! This book is such a delight! Anyone who loves cozy fantasy’s like Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes or T.J Klune’s Under the Whispering Door will simply adore The House of Frank.

The characters are all magical, diverse and oh so charming. I just love our girl Saika as a main character, and her sapphic romance with Oli is ridiculously cute. Franks house with its special aboretum for a setting was truly the perfect cozy fantasy setting. Yes, this story is all cozy wozy but it’s also filled with grief of loss of loved ones.

This is a wonderful debut from Kay Synclaire and I highly recommend to anyone who ever wished for a pet dragon.

I did not expect to have my heart completely shattered and put back together when I began this book.

The author beautifully covers many types of grief and the many ways one can cope with these experiences. Throughout the story the characters all slowly open up and share more of their personal lives with the reader making you actually feel like you’re becoming friends with them. By the end you are actually feeling a little grief yourself knowing you have to let the characters go.

The found family and healing that comes in this story is some of my favorite I have ever read.

3.5 Stars! 🌟
House of Frank was a beautiful story of love and grief. Set in a magical cozy setting with an eclectic group of characters Saika learns how to process her grief and acknowledge her emotions before finding direction and purpose.

Thank you Kay Sinclaire, Net Galley, Ezeekat press and Bindery for the digital arc.

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the opportunity of reading this before release date <3

This book has a very interesting premise. If you are looking for a book that takes you on a journey of self love, grief, cozy somewhat low stakes fantasy, found family and some action, this is for you.

I really loved how Saika finds people who treasure, love but also hold her accountable for her mistakes and her bad decisions. I really loved the whole concept of having a community of people who give you a space to grief and say goodbye to your loved ones. I think we all need support and kindness in the moments where grief is touching our door and, the exploration in this book was beautiful although at times it can be heart wrenching. I love the diversity of the characters and how each story was presented to us in order to understand each background and personality, how they arrived at Ash Gardens. The whole fantasy aspect was very interesting and kind of new into the genre. I really hope this author has more in store because this was promising. I didn’t connect MUCH with the characters and felt it a bit dragged out but, overall, it was very enjoyable and different.


COMES OUT ON OCT 15, 2024 ❤️‍🩹

House of Frank is an exploration of grief, the lengths we will go to honor our loved ones, and what we would do to bring them back. The story follows Saika on her journey to fulfill her sister’s burial wishes. It’s about the people she meets when she arrives at Ash Gardens, their stories of grief, and how they support each other.

The book is set primarily on an old property where families visit to bury their loved ones' ashes and transform them (through magic) to trees in their memory. The cozy narrative offers a comforting backdrop for Saika's grief journey, and she finds comfort and new beginnings within a welcoming community.

This beautifully written debut novel captures the subtleties of grief and the healing power of relationships. If you appreciate stories that delve into the themes of loss and renewal, House of Frank is a must-read. It is an excellent debut novel.

This follows a witch named Saika and her journey to find peace after the death of her sister.
Her sister's last wish was to be put to rest at Ash Gardens. It has taken Saika two years to make herself go there. She's just not ready to say goodbye.

Ash Gardens is not what she expected. She will find so much more than a place for her sister to rest.

This is somewhat cozy, has found family elements and some very interesting creatures.
I liked it ok, but it felt really drawn out to me. I found it too repetitive at times.

Saika a witch who has lost her powers travels to Ash Garden to plant her sister's ashes. But she had difficulties with doing this. Frank, the owner of the Garden, gives her job until she is ready to plant the ashes.

I was really looking forward to this book. There were also glowing reviews that made this book seem to be just what I wanted too. It has the trope of found family which is my favorite but even that couldn't save this book for me.

Saika is the MC who we are supposed to be for but she is not a likable person. I know she is processing her grief and so we are not seeing her at her best but she is judgmental and self-centered. She had a very co-dependent relationship with her sister and now that she is dead Saika can't live her life. She also can't admit that an action she did in the book wasn't right and hurt Frank.

Then we get to the found family who feel more like a disjointed group than a family. Characters make comments that are supposed to be teasing but feel mean spirited. one of the characters Phil is a ghost who cannot speak but no one in the house helps find a way for him to communicate. Then they also don't seem to know things about each other that they should know since they have lived with each other for years.

Now to the setting, where in time is this story taking place. There are moments where the story feels modern then there are others that makes it feel old. It can be very disconcerting for some.

I do like the concept of Ash Garden, a place to turn loved ones Ashes into living trees. It is a sweet concept. I also like that magic is just casual in the world. It's not strange and mysterious.

Overall, the book was not for me after all. That is not to say that others may enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery for an ARC for House of Frank.

Nothing wrong with it, just not for me.
I think it's time to accept I'm no longer in my cosy era. We had a good run, but now I'm looking for something different.
For a reader who is firmly IN their cosy era, this would be perfect. It has gentle pacing and a lovable cast of characters.
The prose felt a little stilted to me at times, which I think impacted pacing for me, and the character voices felt a bit same-ish to me.
If you're looking for a book that carefully explores grief in a safe environment, I suspect you'll get a lot more out of this than i did.

"House of Frank" by Kay Synclaire is an enchanting journey through grief wrapped in the cozy embrace of fantasy. The story follows Saika, a powerless witch fulfilling her sister's last wish amidst the stormy sanctuary of Ash Gardens. When welcomed by the enigmatic Frank, a mythical beast in an oversized cardigan, Saika finds solace and purpose among a motley crew of caretakers. The novel beautifully captures the essence of grief as Saika navigates loss, aided by magical creatures and unexpected companions. Synclaire's writing style, like a warm comforting hug on a cold night, skillfully balances sadness with hope, making every page a poignant exploration of love persevering through sorrow.

I loved every aspect of "House of Frank," from its diverse and vibrant ensemble cast to its heartfelt queer representation. The narrative delicately weaves themes of healing and rediscovery, showing Saika's journey from isolation to connection. The sanctuary's magical allure, combined with high stakes and heartfelt emotions, creates a captivating backdrop that draws readers into a world where joy and grief coexist harmoniously. If you enjoy cozy fantasy with a touch of whimsy, deep emotional resonance, and characters that linger in your heart long after the last page, "House of Frank" is a must-read. It's a stirring portrait of loss, love, and the transformative power of acceptance.

Kay Synclaire has crafted a tale that resonates deeply, echoing the sentiment that grief is not the end but a passage to rediscovering what it means to live fully and love unreservedly. "House of Frank" is more than just a story—it's a heartfelt reminder of the strength found in vulnerability and the beauty of unexpected friendships amidst life's darkest moments.

I adored this book so much. I would lean more toward a 4.5 as far as ratings go. Me personally, I have a very complicated relationship with death in the fact it is one of my most significant sources of anxiety. The way Synclaire writes about death and how others deal with it is done very well and consciously. The whole premise of the magical arboretum brings a soothing aspect to the afterlife, and we all have different ideas about it, but how we say goodbye is meant to bring peace and rest. The way the novel comes in the form of Saika being unable to let go of Fiona and addressing her as she continues her journey was very interesting. By the epilogue, the reader sees an actual letter written to Fi instead of the rest of the novel, where Saika's entire being and thoughts revolve around her grief. Hilde physically feeling others' emotions and channeling them into something for the families was a unique and beautiful concept when it came to using magic in this world. The atmosphere was also something I loved as a lover of cozy reading. It feels strange to put cozy in this review as it deals with such intense feelings, but it's true. The found family, love, grief, and acceptance on the backdrop of a warm home full of mystical beings balances in a way that comforts the reader. It was emotional and beautiful.

A delightful and deep cozy mystery with witchy elements and great diverse representation. And it's from a BookTok favorite...everyone will love this!

House of Frank is a cozy fantasy about navigating grief, finding your place, and your worth. The characters are all quite likeable and the mystery of why the house is falling apart is interesting. That said, I’m not sure the pacing worked for me. As the story unravels, Saifa, the newcomer to Ash Gardens, learns how and why the other residents/employees came to Ash Gardens and why they stay. Given the plot of the book, it was inevitable we would learn the individual stories, and each story was lovely in their own way, but the way some were revealed felt forced. There were also times when Saifa’s insistence that her actions were right, even when those most impacted were telling her she was wrong, was frustrating. And the lack of character growth on this aspect even more so. Her growth in other ways was lovely to see and the purpose of Ash Gardens, and the way each character loved the Gardens as both their home and their place of work and as a place to create family and community was beautiful. Overall, it’s a nice read. I just wonder if it would have worked better as a series of interconnected short stories of duology where we could learn more about each character and the magic system of the world.

House of Frank by Kay Sinclaire
genre: fantasy
themes: grief, magic, queerness, healing, found family
release date: 15th October 2024

plot summary:
We follow Saika, a witch, who is on her way to plant her sisters ashes in a magical resting place „Ash Gardens“. But Saika is not ready to let go - and so she spends her time helping the host of Ash Gardens, a lovable furry creature called Frank, to keep everything together. But Saika has a secret and it lies heavy on her heart.

my opinion:
All the residents at Ash Gardens are so lovable and felt incredibly real to me. I was very immersed in the story and the writing style was very unique, as the reader sometimes gets addressed as our protagonist’s dead sister. Kay Sinclaire portrays grief like it really is: encompassing, heavy and difficult. Every character is complex and nuanced, and i enjoyed the (not always so) casual queerness completely. But it‘s great that the queer identity here is just a small part of our characters, they are much more than just gay or trans. They have a backstory, hopes and secrets. I loved this book wholeheartedly and would recommend it to everyone.

this arc was kindly gifted to me by @bindery_books and @netgalley
the above stated opinion is honest and completely my own.

I wanted to love this book. The atmosphere was great, and I could really feel the house. However, I take umbrage with the fact that a "found family" could be family if they refuse to talk to each other to this extent. The main character and love interest were so mean to each other and communicated so little in the resolution that it was hard to get behind. Frank somehow trusted no one about his memory issues. I liked the "vibes" but had difficulty connecting to the characters as it felt like most of the plot tension was built on lack of communication.

This hit a lot of hard topic involving death and grief, and yet managed to still feel like a cozy read with found family. The story is done with Saika describing events to her dead sister, so the format took a little to get used to. It is an excellent way of showing her state of mind, though, and showing the grieving she is going through. It does well at evoking emotions, and while I think there’s some things that didn’t need to be kept mysterious for. Others in the house, it was overall a good read.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know how a book can delve into deeper topics like death, grief, Alzheimer’s and still remain super cozy and fantastical but this one nailed it.

Magic. Romance. Extremely heartfelt.

I loved this one and feel like it would be great on a reread and also on screen. Just lovely.

Thank you to netgalley and bindery books for an eARC

3.5 stars for this cozy fantasy story with grieving as a major theme throughout, and an LGBTQIA+ romance.

Saika is a music witch mourning the death of her sister. Fiona made her promise to see that her ashes were planted at the arboretum at Ash Gardens, where they will grow into something beautiful. Even after she arrives at Ash Gardens, Saika finds she is not yet ready to part with her sister's ashes, and she winds up staying on and helping out around the place. She gets to know the others employed there, including cherubs, an elf, a half-gargoyle, and a one-of-a-kind beast. It turns out they are all suffering their own losses, and develop relationships that allow them to help one another navigate through their grief.

This was nice story of love, loss, friendship, and healing. The range of characters was nice, although you only get to know a few of them beyond surface level. I wasn't really feeling the romance between our two lovebirds, personally--their interactions with one another were more irritating than anything, in my opinion, but it made for a sweet story. This is a slower-paced character driven tale, and though it takes place in a fantasy world, we are only shown this one specific part of it at Ash Gardens (with one day trip into the city). Potential readers should also know, the narration often veers into second person, as Saika addressing her departed sister. It's not like the entire book is written in second person point of view, but some people may be turned off even by a portion of it being so.

Now if I may grumble a little bit - when Saika reads that a dragon laying eggs means it's trying to start a family and explains this to others, and their response is, "I had no idea!'...what exactly was their understanding of how eggs work?! Also, this is another case of me being taken by surprise by the occasional F-word sprinkled throughout--cursing in books doesn't bother me (as long as it's not excessive), but was surprising in what otherwise seemed like such a wholesome story.

But overall this was a decent cozy, emotional yet hopeful read.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley & Ezeekat Press for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

House of Frank is a cozy witch story...that is also a little boring. It's described as a "warm and hopeful story of a lonely witch consumed by grief who discovers a whimsical cast of characters in a magical arboretum" and I definitely think it delivers on the content. The whimsical, cozy sapphic witch story is definitely present. I don't want to be too negative because it isn't a terrible book. It's just slow, and at times the pace felt a little meandering. It didn't get truly interesting until around the last 30%. With that said, it is full of life with a diverse cast that really embraces the found family mentality, and I was very emotional at different points in the book. The author really does hit the nail on the head about grief.

I would recommend this for anyone who is into slower paced stories that are not plot centered, but more emotionally driven.