The Dolls House novella packed a lot of punch for a short story. This was an occultish story with a bit of darkness. An almost perfectly creepy vibe short story for a spooky season.

This should have been a novella. The story was rushed. I liked the premise and how it started. But there wasn't a big "mystery" to figure out and could see it coming. This book would have been much better if it was more fleshed out and had more depth. The DD was also unnecessary and was pretty obvious who that was. There's more potential for this book if it had about 100 more pages.

The Doll’s House is a short story by Lisa Unger, whose books I have read previously. In the story, a mother and daughter are moving into the mother’s boyfriend’s house, a house that is extremely creepy! The daughter is not happy about the move and is still mourning her father’s suicide, which happened a year ago. I really don’t want to give anything away, so I will just tell you that there is a high creepy factor. I’m glad I read it even though I thought there way too many coincidences happening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to read this ARC. This review is entirely my own opinion.

I liked this short story well enough. Unger does a good job of drawing you in to the idyllic, rich town where the main characters find themselves. I think this might have been better if it were a little longer, since it moved a bit too fast to be believable. Still, it’s a fun story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a well crafted short story that did not disappoint! While grieving the tragic loss of her husband, Jules meets a dashing man named Kirin who she falls madly in love with. Before too long, she finds herself engaged to Kirin and moving into his home with her daughter Scout. Scout is not thrilled with this move and doesn’t hesitate to show her feelings. The “Winslow House” is beautiful and state of the art. Kirin, who is a renowned “doll maker”, tries to get closer to scout by giving her one of his best creations…a doll made in the likeness of his lost sister. Intrigued but also sensing something darker, Scout starts to investigate the history of the Winslow House and the sister who disappeared. As the story goes on, she realizes that all is not what it seems and she and her mother may be in grave danger. This was a short but compelling story! I highly recommend this read!

A short and very creepy novel, after a whirlwind romance widow Jules moves herself and her daughter Scout to the countryside to love with her new partner Kirin.
The plot is pacey and engaging but the novel's short length means the characters aren't fully developed leaving the reader slightly ambivalent about the ramping tension. It feels as though the ending is a little abrupt but the concept is interesting nd the writing is engaging. Well worth a read.

This is a short story, not a full-length novel, it’s about 80 pages long, but it has it all packed in neatly within those short pages.
Honestly, I have no clue what REALLY happened in this story. And somehow, I love it. There is no open ending, but there is no definite and conclusive explanation of what was what, or why it was there at all.
I’m not a fan of unexpected surprise paranormal twists, and this might have a touch of paranormal within the story, or it may not have it – it could have been paranormal, or it might have never happened. And, turns out, it works for me!
A fast-paced, action-packed, suspenseful, and claustrophobic story. With a strong gothic vibe, with a fierce teen character, with a strong touch of horror and mystery, kind of spooky, and with a satisfying ending. I’d say this is THE perfect one-night-read when you are looking for a quick and thrilling fix in a book.

4★

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this novella.

The main reason I wanted to pick this up was that I've been enjoying a lot of the Amazon novella collections so far. I also do like a quick read here and there. This was really great and I had a lot of fun.

During the first chapter, I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy it as the characters didn't feel relatable for me personally. But I ended up enjoying both POVs.

The story follows a mother and her daughter after the death of her husband. So we get both the mother's POV and the daughter's as well. We follow them as they move into the mother's new boyfriend's house, and things get weirder from there.

I have never read anything by this author—although I do have an e-book of her Christmas thriller and I'm looking forward to reading it—and I have to say I really liked the writing in this story. So that makes me want to pick up her other stuff as well.

I really enjoyed this, would recommend for sure. A short spooky read, perfect for the spooky season.

Also will read anything be Lisa Unger. Not typically a fan of short stories but this was fun! A bit predictable but she writes a great story!

The Doll’s House:
This bizarre short story features a widowed mom and her teenage daughter who move into her artist fiancée’s mysterious mansion. Is this a place of safety or is there something sinister lurking nearby?
4 stars

I don't read a lot of short stories but when I saw this one was written by Lisa Unger, I knew I had to get it. Under 100 pages, this story manages to pack so much in. We get to know Scout and her mother Jules who have just moved in with Jules' new partner Kirin, into his lavish estate. Kirin is an artist and makes lifelike dolls. I won't say anymore except be sure to give this one a go. It is perfect as an in between read and will not disappoint.

Very enjoyable short story from Lisa Unger. A mix of genres. Great characters, story, and pacing. Will need to try one of her novels now. #TheDollsHouse #NetGalley

A nice suspenseful short story great for spooky season, I loved where some parts of the book took place. Since it is a short story I felt some parts of the book was rushed and the long description of things were not necessary I did feel the book could have been a bit shorter because of that. Overall I would recommend reading The Doll’s House by Lisa Unger
 publishing September 12, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

The Dolls House by Lisa Unger is a captivating and concise thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. Unger's ability to weave complex characters with a dark, twisting plot is truly impressive. Despite its brevity, this short story packs a punch, offering a quick yet immersive read. The story delves deep into the psyche of its characters, exploring themes of trauma, identity, and the masks we wear. The atmospheric writing pulled me in, making it easy to visualize the eerie settings and feel the tension building with each chapter.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, but overall, it didn’t detract much from the experience. The narrative kept me guessing, and the unexpected twists were well-executed.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. The Dolls House is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a story that can be devoured in one sitting and keeps them thinking long after the final page.

Fast-paced, thriller short story. It was bad, I just feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and I was honestly left confused by the last line. Not bad though, interesting concept.

So spooky in less then 100 pages.

Jules and her daughter Scout are moving in with her new boyfriend Kirin. But some things are not adding up.

This book is so fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole entire time. We have a little bit of a mystery and a little bit of spooky all mixed into one.

I could not put this book down until I reached the last page and even then the spooks did not stop.

Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 98
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone

The Doll’s House is a short story although there is so much that goes on that it doesn’t feel like a short story. Feels like a complete and surprisingly complex novel actually. It’s about 100 pages so you can read it fairly quickly.. I did find the ending fairly predictable although there were certain parts of the story I was surprised by. Scout is relatable and likeable character and I think this book will be a crowd pleaser.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Amazon for the advanced reader copy. Publication date Sep 14, 2024.

3.5 stars. This was a quick read that kept me engaged throughout. The book was predictable, but I still enjoyed reading it!

Very interesting short story. Around 100 pages. Creepy, entertaining and surprising! Definitely recommend

ARC 📖 Review: The Doll’s House by Lisa Unger
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5 stars)

Pub Date: 9/12/24

When I saw this short story on Netgalley I had to snag it! This was such a fun fast paced horror/thriller novella. Somewhat predictable but it kept me intrigued the whole time! Would definitely recommend this one for anyone looking for a quick read! Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🎎🚪🏠

A widowed mother, ready to give love another chance, moves into her fiancé’s old family home with her teenage daughter. But as they try to build a future together, the past refuses to let go in this haunting short story.

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