THE DOLL'S HOUSE has the perfect amount of suspense and creepiness that I would expect from a novella. I liked the quick pace and the alternating chapters with the points of view of Jules and Scout. I'd say this is a great little story to read for spooky season or if you just like horror novels. Although the story was not scary to me personally, you won't find any dolls hanging out in my house anytime soon!

Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This review will be shared on my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

The Doll's House
by Lisa Unger
Pub Date: Sep 12 2024

The Doll's House is the first short story I have read from Amazon Original Stories. At only 98 pages this story is a quick read but also an awesome read! A great read with the Halloween Season coming up! I'm excited to read more of these short stories from Amazon Original Stories!

Synopsis: 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.

Many thanks to #TheDollsHouse #NetGalley and #AmazonOriginalStories for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 STAR short story!

I'm a Lisa Unger fan and the fact this this is a short story, I felt that it was too short and as creepy, dark, and suspenseful as it was, it could have been even more so in a longer edition. That being said, The Doll's House was a good read.

Jules is widowed, when she found the perfect guy to restart her life. She moves into a beautiful mansion in New York. Her teenage daughter is not over the moon to have her dad replaced and her life upended. I was looking for more resistance and angst from her, but instead she makes friends easily and is on a mission to find out more about the new man in their lives.

A bit supernatural here and there, so suspending belief is a must to enjoy this story. Unger fans will enjoy this short read break.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for early access.

The Dolls House is the perfect short story to indulge in over Halloween.

There are scary dolls and puppets. An unsettling owner of an isolated mansion with secrets to keep. And Jules and Scout - the main protagonists of the story.

As their story unfolds you learn that neither Scout or Jules are being totally honest with each other.

You also learn that the house is full of secrets waiting to be told.

And perhaps most unsettling is the house AI who just sets the unsettling edge on the narrative.

I really enjoyed this and its a 4 stars - it was a pity it was a short story and not a novel as I was sorry to finish it so quickly.

Put this on your Halloween TBR list! The plot is twisty, and the main characters are engaging and more complex than one typically finds in a short story.
Much to her surprise, Jules has fallen head-over-heels in love again despite still morning the death of her husband. Much to her daughter's chagrin, they are moving into Kirin's mansion, where he has spared no expense on renovations to welcome them. But is Kirin too good to be true? (Cue creepy music) A quick and entertaining read, spooky, but also a bit too "out there" for me (which brought my rating down a bit).

I have previously read other books by Lisa Unger and really enjoyed them. When I saw she was coming out with a short story, I was so excited. This was a quick, suspenseful and eerie. I found that even though this was a short story, it was detailed and had a great storyline. The characters were well written and this short story really packed a punch. I would definitely recommend!

I always look forward to Amazon Original Stories and this one did not disappoint! I will be waiting for release day so I can also listen this one. We'll done!

Spooky. I've never read any of this author's other work but I am considering picking up her other work. Honestly, would read an entire series centered in this town with those creepy puppets forever. I am only given the short story a minus star because I thought the reveal was a slight letdown, and thought the author could go off the walls with the puppets if she wanted to. Though the ending was super fun, and definitely leads to more questions than answers.

This book is only 98 pages but packs a punch. Creepy dolls, creepy house and some supernatural beyond the grave vibes. This is definitely one you want to read. Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I’m never sure how to review short stories. I ended up giving this 3 stars. I did enjoy it, however I felt it would have really been a great novel if the story had been fleshed out more.

This was a such a fun little short story! Lisa Unger can really weave a story with just a few short lines. I loved the mystery - the creepy dolls and Vivi. I liked the idea of how small this academy and area felt - because everything was a bit exclusive. I liked how light and respectfully some really tough mental health things were tackled. Quick and creepy, this was a fun and perfect fall read!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Nice little palate cleanser, surprisingly thorough for a short story! Perfect for busting a reading slump and totally appropriate for spooky season

When reading short stories, I usually end up feeling rushed and unsatisfied. This story is not that case. This author did a wonderful job of creating this intricate, fast-paced, yet thrilling story. Between the AI house, the girl in the garden, and the replica doll of the dead sister, this book definitely had its spooky moments. This book is labeled as horror but is more a fast-paced mystery/thriller. Is perfect for a quick palate cleanser.

While this might be a short story it really packs a punch. Well-developed characters & an eerie plot. The perfect read for spooky season.

★★★½ ROUNDED UP ⬆️⭐️
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I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to review this book.

I don’t know how the author did it, but she managed to fit an entire novel into a short story! I didn’t want to finish this! Action, suspense, and drama….all packed into a story that’s done almost as soon as you e started it. Loved it!

I have loved 0ther books by Lisa Unger and I was so excited for this one and it didn't disappoint, as the danger progresses I got more into the book and read it very quickly.

Thank you to Netgally and Amazon Original Stories for a free ARC of The Doll's House in exchange for my honest review.

This short story was just what I needed:
- Spooky haunted house
- Unsolved missing girl case
- Creepy puppeteer and his merry gang of creations

I enjoyed the eerie elements, as well as the pacing of the short chapters. Everything flowed really well and kept me from putting it down. This was also my first from Lisa Unger and I will definitely be picking up more from her.

An easy 4⭐️.

**3.5 stars**

It was the creepy cover that attracted me to this. This was a good short little read, perfect for spooky season. Ms Unger put a lot of detailed character development in such a short story I’m intrigued to read one of her books now. I did guess what was going on I still enjoyed it.

I’d buy this for $.99 or $1.99 especially if already was a Lisa Unger fan.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

Great short story, kept me intrigued and didn’t drag on. Kinda wanted more. This was my first of this author and I will definitely be picking up more

The Doll’s House was an excellent and suspenseful short story that I’m grateful I had a chance to read. I hope author Lisa Unger publishes a book of short stories such as this, or at least structures her future novels in the same way as The Doll’s House. I’ve enjoyed previous novels by Ms. Unger, but this shorter work contained many elements I enjoy about the domestic suspense genre, as well as a gothic mansion setting that I adored. I was captivated by the story from beginning to end. There are many surprises throughout and I finished it in a few hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC of this story for review consideration. All opinions are my own.