Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this novella/short story

This was a quick and fun read that I highly enjoyed, I do wish it was longer and drew the story out more to grab the reader in more and become lost in the atmosphere and tension that was building (not going to lie this has inspired me to write an audio roleplay series for my voice acting channel). The story was well-written and I loved the creepiness of the dolls and the essence of the person being able to be trapped forever entwined but not fully shown.

I could imagine so much more happening if the book was longer because I would have read another 200 pages of this story, I will be keeping an eye out for more novels from this author in the future

Well I definitely shouldn’t have read this right before bed. This felt very much like one of those creepy twilight zone episodes in book form. I wish this was a full on book and not just a short story.

3.5 stars. This was a quick and easy book. I don't usually read short stories but I enjoyed this brief step into this genre. There were places where this felt very rushed and I think the story only spanned a few days which made it sometimes a bit unbelievable.

However, it was a spooky read with some supernatural elements. A perfect halloween read.

I alternated between listening and reading and both experiences were good. Id recommend this one to anyone who likes horror/thrillers and wants a quick read.

Perhaps I had too high expectations, but I felt quite let down by the story. I was looking forward to reading this short novella after having previously read and enjoyed "The New Couple in 5B." However, the story in "The Doll's House" was neither engaging nor thrilling. It was also, quite frankly, not surprising at all. Perhaps the story would have benefited from being longer and having more fleshed-out characters because it had potential, and the characters were not too bad.

This was a deliciously creepy read perfect for the Halloween season. I didn’t even realize this was a short story when I requested it from Netgalley; I just saw it was by Lisa Unger and had to read it!

The story alternates points of view between mother and daughter Scout and Jules just as they’ve moved into a new home (re: mansion) with Kirin, the man Jules has fallen in love with following the death of her husband. All seems to be normal and like a fairytale until Scout begins to dig into the disappearance of Kirin’s sister Emma.

For a short story, this really packed a punch. We got a lot of details and really felt the connection between Scout and Jules. One thing I loved about this story was its ambiguity in the end. We got answers to a lot of things, but I think there was a lot that wasn’t completely hashed out and that open-endedness added to the creep factor!

A widowed mother and teenage daughter move into her fiancé’s ancestral smart house to begin their new life together. Both Jules and Scout are still mourning the suicide of their family patriarch. Her fiancé Kirin updates the house to suit their desires and a ghost can be seen haunting the grounds. When Scout finds a doll in Kirin’s sister Emily’s old room, she becomes curious about her disappearance. What happened to Emily? Are they in danger?

I really enjoyed the first half of the short story. However, I was left with so many unanswered questions in the end as things started to get really wacko. The premise just fell apart, as if Unger didn’t really know where where she wanted to go with the story. I might have enjoyed this more if it was a full length book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

The Doll's House by Lisa Unger was a great quick read that was a great read especially for Halloween which is just around the corner. This book maybe only 98 pages but it was so creepy with brilliant characters I was gripped from the beginning and enjoyed reading it. I loved the way the author Lisa bought you into the Doll's house which was creepy.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Thanks Amazon Original Stories for my ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This was unfortunately a boring and predictable story for me. The characters were not strong at all. You can definitely skim read this story and not waste your time. Copy and paste almost was the style of this story.
Soft pass on this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Unger and Amazon Original Stories for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I love Unger’s writing so much. I don’t usually read short stories but I took a chance and I’m not upset about it. It was twisted and easy read, while still feeling like it was a full and finished story.

Lisa Unger’s The Doll House is spooky season perfect. I don’t read a lot of shorter novels, but I will always make an exception for Lisa Unger. This one is creepy, twisty, and, even though it’s short, I was able to really connect with Jules and Scout. There’s just enough of the paranormal to make it believable without being over the top, and I loved it!

What a novella!!!
Filled with everything that you are looking for in a thriller.
Eerie twists and turns that keep you wanting more.

An extremely creepy short story about a seemingly perfect man that creates dolls - a perfect spooky fall read!

Lisa Unger is a favorite and this creepy short story is perfect for spooky season. It’s unsettling in the best possible way! Short and sweet! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Lisa Unger has written my kind of spooky in her most recent short story, which I can only say makes me glad I wasn’t much of a doll kind of girl growing up!

When renowned puppet and doll maker Kirin Winslow invites his love Jules and her 17-year-old daughter Scout to live with him on his 20-acre estate, it looks like a dream come true. After losing her husband by his own hand, Jules is convinced that Kirin’s devotion and kindness to her and Scout will be the new start for them that they both need.

One person who’s not thrilled with this move is Scout. She and Jules have always been close, and even more so after her dad’s death, but now Jules has sold their beloved NYC apartment, moved Scout away from her school and friends and seems to be growing strangely less available for her by the day. Maybe the beautiful doll she discovered while wandering the house can keep her company …

You know it’s only going to get creepier when a doll is introduced, right? Add in an eerily polite AI smart home assistant named Vivi and that creepy quotient only multiplies! Told in alternating chapters by Jules and Scout, I enjoyed the dual POVs and how their stories came together for the spine-chilling conclusion!

This was engaging from the get-go, and I had a lot of fun with it. Though just under 100 pages, I felt like I got a complete and satisfying story arc, which is a credit to Unger’s talent, since that often doesn’t happen with short stories. It was never full-on scary, but the vibes stayed weird and ominous throughout, with light touches of horror and the supernatural.

If you want a quick, entertaining read for the spooky season, this may be worth your time!

★★★★

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Lisa Unger’s The Doll’s House is a haunting short story that masterfully blends supernatural elements with contemporary family drama. Set in a once-lonely mansion in a small town, this tale explores themes of grief, love, and the lingering shadows of the past.

The story follows Jules, a widowed mother who, after meeting the charming artist Kirin, decides to move into his old family home with her teenage daughter, Scout. Jules is ready to embrace a new chapter in her life, but Scout is determined to keep her father’s memory alive, resisting the changes that come with their new life. The tension between mother and daughter is palpable, adding depth to their characters and making their struggles relatable.

Unger excels at creating an eerie atmosphere that permeates the mansion. The house, with its many empty rooms and hidden corners, becomes a character in its own right. The discovery of a beautiful handmade doll, which Kirin claims belonged to his late sister, adds a layer of mystery and foreboding. Scout’s initial sullenness begins to fade as she becomes intrigued by the doll and the secrets it might hold.

The pacing of The Doll’s House is impeccable. Unger skillfully balances moments of quiet introspection with bursts of suspense, keeping the reader engaged throughout. The narrative is tightly woven, with each revelation adding to the overall sense of unease. The supernatural elements are subtly integrated, enhancing the story’s haunting quality without overshadowing the emotional core of the characters’ journey.

This short story is its explores how the past can shape and haunt the present. Unger delves into the psychological impact of grief and the ways in which people cope with loss. The characters’ interactions are authentic and emotionally charged, making their journey both compelling and heart-wrenching.

The Doll’s House is a beautifully crafted short story. Lisa Unger has delivered a tale that is chilling and deeply moving, with characters that resonate and a plot that keeps you guessing.

For fans of supernatural thrillers and emotionally rich narratives, this story is a must-read!

This is the perfect book for the season! I love it and I am so glad I was gifted this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was such a good spooky short story. I'm not one to love a bunch of scary or horror books, so this little taste of one was perfect for me. I thought the scene was set from the first page of the book, and enough tension was created. I loved the dual POV and thought it was definitely well done. While I left wanting more, as I often do with short stories, I really enjoyed my time spent with this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Amazon Original Stories for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Review to come in 9 days on blog/other places.

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

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👻 I loved seeing both the POV of the mom and the daughter. If it was just the daughter... well I would have DNF-ed the book SO FAST. I mean, nothing against Scout, she is 100% a teen, but she just got on my nerves. So I am happy that we also got to balance it with Jules/the mom, and get some insights on why mom made these decisions. We learn that not everything is as it seems, that mom really cares, but she had to make some tough decisions and also made the decision to shield Scout from her father's depressions/mental health.
👻 The dolls! So many dolls. You know, I would have said HECK nope to it all, but apparently both Scout and Jules aren't that scared of dolls. I would for the life of everything NEVER marry someone who makes dolls. I am terrified of them.
👻 Vivi, the house AI/bot, was well written and made some moments much tenser. She controls the house. She only listens to one person. You know the deal with that in horror stuff like this.
👻 Seeing a ghost haunt the gardens. But is she an evil or a good ghost?
👻 Finding out about that ghost, but also get some other hints that something is NOT right at the estate. Something is wrong with Kirin. That was a lot of fun to read!
👻 The ending, and then specifically the last bit of it. That scared the jeepers out of me.
👻 I love that Scout found her people so soon.

💀 But it was just too rushed. If you didn't think about the time it is fine, but as soon as you think that it was only merely 2-3 days that is when the story collapses for me. It just doesn't make sense for everything to happen so quickly. It just loses the build-up if you think about that time elapsed. Scout's friendship just feels weird then, the possible romance between Racer feels like a love at first sight. Why is everything found so quickly? It just goes too fast. So I think that should have been better. Even if that meant adding a few more pages, or I don't know, a time skip of a month with a small bit of a recap on spooky things that happened. That would have worked.
💀 Again, Scout was a true teen, but at times I wanted to yeet her in the nearest garbage mountain. Bye.
💀 I am not sure how I felt that Jules suddenly saw Doug (her dead husband). That just made it weird, especially when she started talking to him. I am still not sure if it is because of the whack on her head, or something else. Again, with a bit longer time line it may have worked out. Now it was just weird.

But in overall, again don't think about the short time line, it was a good spooky read with several thrills. I would still recommend it.

A fun twisted little short story. Felt a little bit like it was trying to accomplish more than it had time for, but overall it was an enjoyable and quick read

Perfect short story for fall, the right about of suspense mixed with a side of scary. Some short stories feel incomplete and this is not one of them. Enjoy this quick read from Lisa Unger!