Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A story full of heart that, for me at least, didn't ever quite take off.

We meet Saika, a witch in desperate mourning after the loss of her sister, and determined to fulfill her dying wish; bury her ashes in under the trees in Ash Garden. What follows is very much a found family story, about grief and about helping one another heal.

What I liked:
Exploring an aspect of grief and loss that I don't think has huge attention: losing a sibling. The whole book is written in first person, as if Saika is talking to her deceased sister. Many times Saika will actively refer to us, the reader, by her sister's name. It's a framing that I know will turn some people off, but I felt like it really grounded us in Saika's journey.

I enjoyed the diverse cast we meet in Ash Gardens and I like the setting itself. Each of the people living at Ash Gardens had their own background and their own story, and I liked hearing about what had brought them there. Especially nice was in reading how they interacted with one another, and the way that they cared. Kay Synclaire also writes nice prose and I found myself enjoying a good turn of phrase fairly frequently.

What I did not:
To me, this book could be summed up as "a bit clunky", whether that's dialogue or characterisation. I struggled to believe in Saika's motivations for remaining at Ash Gardens, and also found myself a bit annoyed by how much of a saviour complex she seems to develop. It's a level of rushed emotional investment for her that never struck me as authentic. The same is true for how she interacts with some of the other characters, especially Oli, where the dialogue tended towards the stilted. I feel like I can see echoes between this and Under the Whispering Door by T J Klune, which in my very subjective opinion felt more polished.

Rating:
For me, this is 3.25 stars rounded down.

We need to start by acknowledging how this book has one of the most delightful, coziest covers I've EVER laid eyes on. It makes me want to crawl inside and live in this magical, strange little world, and I'm very glad that I was given the opportunity to do exactly that.

However, HOUSE OF FRANK felt surprisingly ... empty? It *was* cozy and lovely and magical, but in a hollow sort of way, like the charm was a veneer with nothing underneath. We get very little worldbuilding beyond Ash Gardens—and honestly, I wasn't mad about that, but it did mean that certain key aspects (like how magic works) fell flat. Saika and her friends never felt *quite* real; I didn't *quite* buy into the romance; the coziness & sentiment felt a little *too* contrived. It reminded me strongly of THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA without a certain sharpness that (imho) made that book so memorable. I don't know. After a while, I found myself skimming/skipping pages even though I couldn't put my finger on why.

That being said, there were some genuinely beautiful, sincere moments. The planting ceremony almost had me tearing up, and Kay Synclaire has a gorgeously immersive writing style. I can see this appealing to a wide breadth of readers & I'll definitely be checking out whatever this author writes next!

What a beautiful melody entangled with grief, love and magic.

Now this is a book that wraps you in a warm hug on a stormy night. I truly loved it and devoured it. Saika is mourning the loss of her sister. She had tried everything to avoid her feelings and coming to terms with her loss. That is until she takes a step towards The Ash Gardens. But she finds much more than she bargains for. This book is full of hope, found family and secrets.

I was quickly lost in the words of this book. The author did a beautiful job creating characters to love and relate to. Each reader will find a bit more inside this book than just another fantasy read. They will find a little piece of themselves. I truly wish we had a place like this in our world. But maybe we do we just have to open our eyes to those around us to find peace for our grieving hearts.

Don’t forget to wish upon a star you never know when that wish will be heard.

This is a low stakes cozy fantasy novel, which is also not super long, so a very good first step into the fantasy genre! It covers grief in a thoughtful and beautiful way, and the characters are just amazingly well written. I might have put it as young adult though, instead of adult fiction.

If you are looking for an intro into fantasy, this is the perfect book for you. This short, low stakes fantasy novel covers grief in such a beautiful way. I connected with each of these characters and want to live in The House of Frank. The development of the characters is so thoughtful and well rounded that you can’t help but fall in love with each of them.

This was exactly as advertised: cozy fantasy about dealing with loss, grief, and sometimes survivor's guilt. Please do check out content warnings beforehand but this book deftly deals with heavier topics like deep grief in a very wholesome way: via a found family and characters who help each other and heal slowly together.

The fantasy here is almost incidental. There are cherubs, one of which is delightfully crass and grumpy, witches, beast persons, dragons, and even ghosts. I appreciated the light touch on the magical system and the variations between general witches (nature witches) and specialised witches who studied that specialty. Saika is a deeply sad but very likeable protagonist and the non-obvious source of her shame and regret is not hard to work out before the reveal. What matters is that we can feel how much Fi was her "second half" and without her sister, Saika is just wandering the world, bereft and incomplete.

I also enjoyed how well all the supporting cast in the house are, from a silent ghost to a fairy who loves to cook to a flirty half-demon witch. Each of them has their own circumstances and history but is bound by the comfort the Ash Gardens give to those who are grieving through their ceremonies and it's honestly moving as we get to know each of them.

Simply put, this was a wholesome and moving book about loss and I would recommend it to anyone who likes cozy fantasy.

Saika, a witch, grieving the loss of her sister and keeps her promise by bringing her sister’s ashes to Ash Gardens and Arboretum. Saika rides the train with her sister's ashes and walks to the gardens in a storm. When she arrives, she notices two cherubs eating fruit and talks with them before knocking on the red door. Frank, a gentle beast in a beige knit sweater wearing reading glasses answers the door. He convinces her to stay the night since the weather is too bad for her to leave. She decides to stay on as an employee to have more time with her sister's ashes. The story is both grief-filled and cozy, making it a must-read. Warnings: grief, death of a child, suicide, and mental illness

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to begin by saying the artwork for the book is stunning. The cover and the story are reminiscent of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, a cozy fantasy with a fast-paced grumpy/sunshine romance. It gave me the impression this would be a cozy fantasy for adults. It was NOT that.

Let me start by saying the tags for the book are misused. I would not agree this is a mystery (where??) and adult fiction. The book covers the loss and reconciliation of a newfound family, but there is no mystery regarding what is happening at the House of Frank except for when the fallen star is going to fall. The lessons that are brought up in the book are merely young-adult if not childish.

However, the tags are not the worst thing. The narration is horrible. The protagonist of the book, Saika, refers to the reader as her dead sister, Fi. It becomes repetitive and annoying as Saika always says something like "that's when I thought of you, Fi". It always made me cringe, but I understand some people like second-person narrative.

Furthermore, the family aspect of the house is toxic. The characters -which are different types of fairytale characters such as cherubs, elves, ghosts etc.- miscommunicate and exclude characters. The ghost can't talk but gives him no tools to communicate with the others (what about writing, hand sign if he wears gloves?). There's a grumpy elf who they constantly forget about (no wonder he's grumpy). Frank is losing his memory throughout the story, but the characters don't seem to care until the last second. All in all, I wouldn't want to come to the House of Frank to say goodbye to my sister.

To conclude, I see potential in Synclaire's writing to young adults with a different narration. However, the story lacks so much depth and understanding it didn't even do what it said to be. It's not a cozy fantasy for me, and if you want a cozy fantasy I will go with the book mentioned in the beginning, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

3.75 rounded up.
Saika travels to Ash Gardens to plant her sister's, Fi's, ashes. The staff include two witches (one part gargoyle), two cherubs, a light fairie, an elf, a ghost, and a beast named Frank. Saika is struggling with laying her sister to rest, while trying to hide her own failing power, but she's not the only one with secrets.

Things got off to a slow start, but this grew into a somewhat cozy, melancholy fantasy story. The melange of magical beings reminds me of The House in the Cerulean Sea with the business akin to Under the Whispering Door; I think fans of TJ Klune will enjoy this book. Though it's handling some heavy topics (death, some suicidal ideation, losing loved ones) there's a strong theme of found family and some joyful moments. There's a range of friendships and queer relationships

Thank you to Bindery Books / Ezeekat Press for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 10/15/24.

Perhaps arriving at closure a little quickly, this book introduces us to a fascinating set of magical and mythic personalities while reflecting on how we help one another grieve and live with grief. I appreciated the range of responses to loss that the book depicts as well as the different kinds of loss, recovery, and regret that can distance us from ourselves and others. This book is a delightful addition to modern fantasy that has all the whimsy of magic while having the people in a magical world cope with otherwise very realistic and human-scale problems. Look out for capably handled queer and trans representation which are present without being the focus of the book.

ARC Reviewer!

Wow. House of Frank is emotionally powerful. I love the representation of queerness and found family.

Saika, a witch with a secret, has to keep her promise of laying her sister, Fiona, to rest at Ash Gardens. This was her sister's dying wish and something Saika has put off for a while. She arrives and is greeted by a beastly Frank who treats her with kindness even though she didn't call ahead and was just dropping in. Saika slowly meets all of the staff of the house including Oli (a half witch), Phil (a ghost!), Hilde (an architect witch), Evette (a fairy!), Merry and Morose (two twin cherubs), and eventually Ignatius (a half elf). Each has their own role in keeping Ash Gardens afloat while a mysterious string of strong storms threatens to reduce the building and all the beautiful trees and plants around it to rubble. Saika struggles to find it in her to lay her sister to rest and instead decides to help out around the house until she is ready. Will the team be able to keep the house from crumbling or even find out why? What is Saika's secret and will it be the key to saving the house?

I could not pull myself away from this book. Kay Synclaire writes so beautifully and it was such a stunning story. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to feel all of the feelings about death and family and what that means for you. I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you to Net Galley and Bindery Books for providing me with this opportunity.

Huh, I felt as if I read a completely different book than all the reviewers who say this book is cozy and touching and endearing. Luckily, there are some that feel the same as I do so I know there’s nothing wrong with me. This book wasn’t cozy at all. It seemed like it at first but it developed into something else entirely. The characters, especially the MC, were rather mean, hypocritical and self-centered, the types that label themselves quirky but it only cover the nastiness. They present themselves as family but aren’t able to talk honestly to each other and they withold information, even the crucial one for their wellbeing and existence, from each other. They witness outright bullying and neglect and they don’t act until it’s too late.

This was a terrible disappointment that leaves me with bad feelings. The only things I liked were the concept of Ash Gardens and the effortless queer rep.

House of Frank is a wonderful debut novel by the amazing Kay Synclaire. It is a story about grief and the process of healing while struggling to find your own self again. It has tropes and themes like Family, Sacrifices and Love. It’s a story that I believe everyone can relate to and find solstice in.

Initially I had to adjust to the point of view and Synclaire’s writing BUT once I did I really think it added to the emotions. Being a part of the story makes you feel as if you are there instead of spectating and I think it adds another level of whimsicalness and magic.

I loved the romance, its sapphic and all heart warming. Since its pride month no one is allowed to critique me when I say… Oli give me one chance. I have the biggest crush on her and no one is allowed to bully me.

The last 40% had be audibly gasping and laughing, I definitely got sent through a wave of emotions but things all worked out for the best, it was painful and unfair but real and I loved that. It’s just a beautiful example of the lengths people will go to to save and hold their chosen family dear.

Thank you NetGalley for early access, Kay for writing this and the team of people that helped support it enough to get it into my hands.

A comfy, melancholy, whimsical tale of grief and found family.

3.75 ⭐ , rounded to 4 ⭐

Told through the voice of Saika talking to her dead sister Fiona, we experience everything along with her. How do I explain that I was so sad but in the cosiest way possible? I felt like grief and I were passengers in Saika's story, how Saika, grief and I came to Ash Gardens and how we watched it evolve into the beautiful House of Frank. I deeply loved the world that Synclaire constructed and the range of personalities that made the story. Oh how I wish I could meet all of these gorgeous characters! Hilde was a particular favourite of mine, as well as Phil the friendly ghost. This story felt cathartic and explored grief in so many ways, stretching and pulling in different directions, showing how it impacts people so diversely.

Also, as an illustrator working in books, how could I not include my love for the cover art? That's what grabbed me in the first place! Illustrator Barry Blankenship did an incredible job. 10/10 no notes.

I think what could have been improved was the narrative structure and overall storytelling. A few major plot points would be revealed but it would feel slightly anticlimactic, or a scene would end quite abruptly. With some narrative editing, this would definitely be a 4.5, or even a 5 from me!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good book! Saika was a great main character. And all of the people she meets at Ash Garden are compelling in their own ways. Saika arrives in a rain storm to bury her sister’s ashes yet finds she can’t part with her right away. She stays to help around the house making friends with everyone and bringing us into their stories. Everyone was well written.

I had a real good time reading House of Frank. Would definitely recommend. Frank was my favorite character!

Currently ugly crying my eyes out at 2:30 in the morning as I write this... oh god. Oh my lord. When I heard of this, and requested it on Netgalley, my first thought was oh, is it gonna give House in the Cerulean Sea/Under the Whispering Door vibes? And it did, but better. I almost don't have the words to describe how I feel about this book but hands down it is easily one of my most favorite books this year in total.

It was so painful seeing how Frank suffered throughout the book. I get the metaphor that was being made with his character. Everyone here suffered, and it was sad knowing that everyone there lost someone. It was an honest and accurate depiction of how everyone deals with grief differently. Some go mad, some lose themselves, some clam up, some get angry. Everyone reacts different, and I think it's important to know and make the distinction, but also to know that everyone is still loveable despite losing a big part of their lives and personage.

I loved how everyone's story was highlighted, at least a bit. Some, more than others, like Phil, and Hilde, but I think their stories were important and lent themselves to the overall narrative, in order to push the plot line along, or to showcase who they really were at the core of themselves behind all the oohs and aahs of it all.

I laughed, I swooned, I gasped, I cried. House of Frank took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and it is hands down a beautiful, sad, lovely book.

oh i am in shambles, this is lovely. The main focus of this novel is healing from grief: how different individuals deal with it, how incessantly every single one of them go through each stage of it, and how important community is while grieving.

House of Frank is a story told from the point of view of Saika, a witch who is grieving her sister Fiona's death. Saika subsequently switches from regular storytelling to direct address, talking to her dead sister Fi every chance she got.
She brings Fi's ashes to Ash Gardens, where you bury your dead's ashes and they grow into trees. Saika had put this task off for the longest time because she couldn't bear officially letting go of Fiona. She went on adventures and travelled everywhere for a long time before she could face the task of burying Fi.

Saika never found out why Fi wanted to be buried in Ash Gardens, only that she did. And in there, she doesn't bury Fi's ashes right away. She puts it off, again.

And it's easy for her to, because Frank makes it abundantly clear that there's no need for her to rush through the process, and that she's free to wait for however long she needs to be ready to bury her sister.

There in Ash Gardens she meets others like her: witches, ghosts, beasts, cherubs, etc., all brought together in the same house. Eventually Saika finds out that this is a house needing help--something that she's all too willing to give.

So she does! She buries herself in work, and does everything else except bury her sister once and for all (':

In the time she spends doing so, she finds love (platonic and romantic) and re-ignites the love she has for her sister in the process.

This book tackles heavy themes for sure, but they were all handled with care.

I finished reading this during Pride month so WOOHOO Happy Pride Month to all the characters in this book--the found families depicted here resemble many found families we have out here in the queer, queer wild.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

For the most part, I liked this. It's a cozy fantasy dealing heavily with grief and found family. The writing style is pretty unique in that it's written in 1st-person (narrated by the main character, Saika), but it's her addressing her deceased sister. I really liked this aspect of the book because it definitely allowed Saika's grief to be felt much more rawly and intimately by the reader.

I think where the bulk of my issue stems from is the pacing. It felt a bit too quick for me, especially considering it was trying to pack in a lot of various plot threads and character arcs and a romance. It just never fully hit for me the way I wanted it to. It got so, so close, but then things would resolve far too quickly and I just felt kind of cheated. I just wanted a bit more of an ease into things. Especially in regards to the romance.

Overall, I still recommend this because I do think it did the cozy aspect well as well as the discussions of grief. It just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

If you want a book to pull at your heart strings this is the one for you! House of Frank is possibly one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read.

We follow Saika our main character on her journey to lay to rest her sister Fi’s ashes after Fi requested to be planted at Ash Gardens in their magical arboretum.

This story is so heavily filled with grief but don’t let that put you off, despite the hard topic and theme this story is so utterly cozy, it feels like a warm hug.

For a debut novel I’m pleasantly surprised at how well this was written, it balanced the conversation of grief with light hearted banter and a beautifully written sapphic romance that felt natural and had me kicking my feet in the air, giddy. I also loved the diversity of all our characters!

Saika’s story is beautiful, the friends she makes (of the mythical kind) and the relationships she builds are heart warming and really bring the whole thing together. Her character was thought out and realistic and I instantly felt connected to her and her loss and will to keep the one she lost close.

This book is about loss and found family, it’s about magic and the cost of loving something so much but also being able to let go to move on and grow.

I’ll stop rambling before I spoil this beautiful book but please just read it for yourself because it definitely deserves the love!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this arc!