4.5 stars rounded up
Cassie stumbles back in her hometown of Elwood, NJ after a messy, sudden break up from her girlfriend, Lavender, back in NYC. She reconnects with her childhood best friend, Eli - a seemingly devoted widower whose wife, Beth, died a year prior. She soon finds herself stepping into the wife and mother role for Eli and his two children. Beth was the "good" traditional Christian wife, homeschooling her children, cleaning the home, making dinner, etc. and Cassie quickly takes over this role even though it's not what she pictured for herself. However, she realizes that Beth may not truly be gone, at least not completely.

While this does, at first glance, follow the gothic trope of a woman entering a marriage to a widower, stepping into the previous wife's place, there are some interesting twists that made House of Beth very gripping and innovative. Cassie lives with OCD, specifically, harm OCD. She deals with sudden, intrusive graphic images of violence towards others, making her feel like she may be a danger to those around her. She grapples with this throughout the novel. I found this to be very well done and very accurate to those who live with OCD. The novel also explores sexuality in a very meaningful way, in characters who are confident in their identity and those who may just be discovering it.

This may not be for everyone, but in my opinion, would be a good fit for those who typically enjoy "weird girl lit". Cassie may be off-putting to some at first, but I really think the author does a great job at making her a sympathetic character as the reader gets to know her. Kerry Cullen's writing is very well done; I found it enticing and lyrical. I look forward to what she writes in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC!

So many plot twists, so many unexpected shifts in this one. I enjoyed and found it very quickly paced! Definitely pick up if you’re in the mood for something with a surprise around every corner.

Let me just say we love a messy life in this house. Our main character Cassie struggles with some mental illness among other minor dumpster fires in life. We’re fine, it’s fine, everything is FINE. This felt like one of those crazy lifetime movies where nothing makes sense, but at the same time it all makes sense. The writing style was somewhat witty and dark at times and I was cracking up in my dark bedroom at every hour of the night reading this book. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for myself upon release. 4.5 stars!

I initially gave this book 4 stars, but upon more reflection I’m bumping the rating up to a 5.

It’s tough to describe the story without spoiling anything, and the surprising turns of the plot really made the experience meaningful. I don’t want to ruin that for anyone else. I will say that I thought at first that I was reading a Lit Fic that was extra dark, then for a moment I suspected it was becoming more of a Thriller, and then it sort of became something else entirely. This book also reminded me, quite dramatically, why I’m relieved to be single. (No, I will not elaborate.)

Main character Cassie is haunted by violent, intrusive thoughts. It’s her own personal form of OCD, and it torments her. Even though she tries to fit herself into the mold of a “normal” person leading something of a domestic life with a former best friend, she is desperately struggling not to unravel.

Kerry Cullen had me intrigued from the start, with fully drawn characters and an unusual premise. I kept thinking, “Wow, everyone is making such bad decisions!” I had to see it play out. Admittedly, Cassie kind of sucks in the beginning, or at least I thought so. She was never interested in Eli before and now she suddenly wants him out of boredom, or a strange sense of possessiveness? I wasn’t buying it and I couldn’t understand it.

But also, there was a whole paragraph from her POV about how she can’t stand the smell of another person’s breath in any and every situation and I was like, “HARD relate.” Being inside Cassie’s head was disturbing but interesting at the same time, even if I didn’t necessarily like her.

About halfway through the book, something very interesting happens. Then, it only continues to get more and more intriguing. I went from mildly invested in the story to obsessed with finding out how things were going to end. And the writing itself was very good from start to finish. By the time I got to the last page, I like Cassie quite a bit more and I understood her better. (I also really liked Beth.)

This story is weird, sad, dark and different than anything I’ve read recently. There were a couple of things I questioned about the ending, but not enough to make me dislike the conclusion. “House of Beth” is the kind of strange Literary Fiction that I appreciate. Without saying too much, it’s a story about the ways people haunt each other, deprive themselves of the love they truly deserve, and end up in the traps of unfulfilling relationships. (But also, a lot of really cool other stuff, too!)

Side note: I think this novel deserves a better cover that is more specific to the actual story. A bowl of fruit just feels a bit lazy to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for offering me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Stalking, Animal death, Disordered eating, Domestic abuse, self-harm, violent images involving children

4.5 stars rounded down

A devoted wife and mother dies unexpectedly. Not long after, the grieving widower brings home a stepmother, a stranger who hides cruel and violent thoughts.

Sounds familiar, right? But this is not that story.

At the base of it House of Beth is exactly that - a modern dark fairytale about a woman who marries into a household where there is a gaping wound left by the one who came before her. But Kerry Cullen takes that premise and turns it on it’s head. Cassie isn’t an evil stepmother - she’s a person struggling with OCD, whose violent intrusive thoughts leave her questioning her reality, even herself. She’s unsure of her place in the world. She doesn’t react to situations like a person “typically” would. Yet, that’s what makes her so compelling.

Beth, on the other hand, is spoken about like some mythical figure who could do no wrong. There’s an air of mystery around who she was and how she died, and we’re kept in the dark just like Cassie until the novel pulls a certain twist that I wasn’t expecting, but loved.

I wouldn’t say House of Beth is plot driven as much as it is a study of Beth and Cassie. These two women are the core of this story, and they make for a compelling read. The writing was beautiful, just the right amount of lyrical without being over the top.

The only gripe I can think of is Cassie’s ex and their relationship not being as fleshed out. I felt as if there was more telling there rather than showing, but that didn’t hinder my reading experience.

Side note - I would probably avoid reading the last few lines of the synopsis. I think it gives away something that doesn’t really happen until much later in the story and doesn’t really present it accurately in my opinion.

Overall, I highly recommend this one and I’ll be looking forward to more by Kerry Cullen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This book will be published in the US by Simon and Schuster on July 15, 2025.

“There were normal brains out there, and I didn’t have one, and how was I supposed to know which kind of fucked up I was? Maybe it was OCD, but maybe it wasn’t, maybe I was just evil and perverse, haunted in ways beyond the obvious.”

Kerry Cullen’s House of Beth is a haunting and deeply introspective novel that toes the line between literary fiction and horror. From the first page, we’re thrust into the chaotic, intrusive mind of Cassie, a woman whose harm OCD leaves her questioning her very existence. She’s anxious, sarcastic, and darkly funny, her inner world a relentless loop of self-doubt and dread. Her relationship with Lavender is collateral damage in her battle with her own brain—Cassie breaks up with her to protect her, convinced she’s capable of unimaginable harm. But the thing that truly unravels Cassie is the moment she walks into work and finds her boss unconscious in a pool of his own blood. Her first thought: I did this.

Fleeing back to New Jersey, Cassie reconnects with Eli, her former best friend whose love for her once fractured their friendship. But Eli isn’t the same either—his wife, Beth, died six months ago, and he’s drowning in his own grief. A drunken reunion leads to a whirlwind relationship, culminating in a marriage that feels more like an escape route than a love story. Cassie convinces herself that if she follows the script of heteronormativity, she might finally silence the intrusive thoughts clawing at her mind. Instead, she finds herself in a house still haunted by Beth—literally.

Beth’s voice enters the narrative as she pieces together her own fragmented memories from the afterlife. She longs to be heard, to make sense of the life she left behind, and—most importantly—to be recognized beyond the roles she was forced into. As Beth takes up residence in Cassie’s consciousness, their relationship grows into something raw, defiant, and deeply affirming. Beth understands Cassie in a way no one else does, especially as Cassie unravels her own queerness and the suffocating constraints of domesticity. Their bond culminates in Cassie’s final act of solidarity: leaving Eli, not just for herself, but for Beth too.

Cullen’s prose is both sharp and lyrical, suffused with a biting wit that makes even the heaviest moments feel electric. The novel’s exploration of harm OCD is unflinchingly honest, giving voice to a struggle rarely depicted with such nuance. House of Beth is a deeply unsettling, deeply beautiful novel about queerness, autonomy, and the ghosts—both literal and figurative—that shape us. It lingers like an afterimage, a whisper that refuses to fade. Kerry Cullen is certainly one to watch out for.

📖 Read this if you love: dark, introspective character studies; unflinching portrayals of mental illness; themes of girlhood, desire, and self-destruction; and books by Carmen Maria Machado.

🔑 Key Themes: Harm OCD and Morality, Girlhood and Shame, Familial Abandonment and Self-Worth, Love as Consumption and Escape.

Content / Trigger Warnings: Alcohol (minor), Toxic Relationship (min), Eating Disorder (minor), Sexual Content (minor), Violence (minor), Stalking (severe), Mental Illness (severe), Blood (moderate), Abandonment (moderate), Bullying (minor), Misogyny (minor), Child Abuse (moderate), Self Harm (minor), Fire (minor), Miscarriage (minor), Animal Death (minor), Murder (moderate).

This lit fic book tickled some kind of weird girl itch I had and is very much giving Good Luck Babe vibes. I really enjoyed switching from Cassie’s to Beth’s POV. Even with Cassie’s battle with her mental health I still found her to be a fairly reliable narrator for most of the book which was a nice twist. I also really liked how the book was broke up by months. I was surprisingly satisfied with the ending.

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

A haunting yet beautifully crafted novel, this story weaves together the lives of two women—one alive, one dead—who both married the same man. Cassie, plagued by intrusive thoughts and haunted by her past, finds herself stepping into the life of Beth, her childhood friend’s late wife. But Beth isn’t entirely gone, and as Cassie struggles with her own mind, the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. The novel handles mental health with nuance, exploring OCD, depression, and self-discovery, all while seamlessly integrating queer identity. While the pacing could have been stronger, particularly in the first half, the final stretch delivers an unforgettable, chilling payoff. With elegant prose and a mesmerizing balance of gore and beauty, this is a deeply immersive, unsettling, and emotionally rich read.

I read the description of "House of Beth" before reading it, but this was not what I expected. What a fun read! Dark, haunting, funny and touching.

I wanted very badly to finish this book. The portrayal of OCD is spectacular, and as someone with OCD, that was actually part of the problem. Every page I read exacerbated everything that was happening in my head, to the point at which I could feel myself panicking. I eventually put the book down, despite my firm belief that this is a well-written and fascinating novel. I got as far as I could.

Given this, I want to warn readers that if you have OCD, this could be triggering. I know for me this was one long exposure therapy, which may be good, but it’s not the easiest when you’re reading for pleasure.

Other than this, it’s well done and has me very invested in Kerry Cullen’s career from here on out.

very interesting book! Beth is probably my favorite character in it but in general it's quite awesome. a lot more discussions of religion than I was expecting, but it worked. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I really enjoyed this crazy journey with Cassie, who leaves the city when her life becomes overwhelming and ends up embedded in the life of her adolescent best friend. I particularly enjoyed the way Cassie's point of view is written so that we get to see her intrusive thoughts due to OCD and how hard her mental health makes interacting with others. I liked the mystery of Beth and getting to know more about her life, but I felt like some of the characters could have been fleshed out better (we didn't really get to know Eli and Joan as much as I would have liked).

I liked the ending, but felt like it could have been more impactful if there was a bit more to the story. The build-up was there, but the actual reveal and climax was a bit of a let down. Regardless, I did really like the author's voice and would love to read more from her in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this ARC!

This book was brilliant. I had no idea where it was going and had such an amazing time that I finished it in two sittings. The OCD representation was also deeply appreciated.

a queer, gothic (very) literary horror with a sprinkling of romance.

this is one of those weird experiences where I have quite a lot I would have liked this book to have done differently, yet I still enjoyed it for what is was.

I wish I had leant more into the horror. it’s verrrry light on that front. I could see people arguing that this shouldn’t even class as horror & I wouldn’t fight them. I also wish it had got weird. with the main character and the journey the story takes, it feels like it had a really easy opportunity to get a little weird and it frustrated me that it chose not to do that. with that being said, I can also completely understand why it didn’t do either of those things and so I don’t resent it for that.

judging this book by what it actually is, I had a good time with it. definitely has that relatability aspect when it comes to those mid-to-late twenties years where you sit back and look at your life and think - could I have done more? I liked how it explored loneliness and living authentically. I did find the pacing a little wonky at times, I couldn’t always work out how long had passed, not just from chapter to chapter but also sometimes paragraph to paragraph.

despite my gripes, overall this was a good one. I’ve never read an Isabel Cañas but this feel like it would probably be a good recommendation for readers who like her books!

An extraordinary tale of two women, one alive, one dead, who both married the same man. Cassie, who suffers from terrifyinglyy vivid intrusive thoughts, runs home when both her career and her love life fall apart. There, she reconnects with her closest childhood friend, a recent widower. Within weeks, she is swept into his world, moving into his house, and caring for his children, trying her best to measure up to the memory of her new husband's dead wife, Beth, all uner the watchful eye of the icy neighbor, Joan. Although everything seems fine, Cassie's thoughts turn darker and bloodier. And, as she discovers, Beth may have died but she isn't entirely gone. This is a wonderful read, a page turner with a dark twist. I was captivated by the relationship between Beth and Cassie, rendered with such sensitivity and sweetness. I loved the unconventional story, the juxtaposition of gore and beauty, and the elegant prose. Highly recommended.

"House of Beth" is an eerie and spellbinding novel. I believe this is a debut novel if I'm not mistaken, and boy I will definitely read from this author in the future. Kerry Cullen's writing style is so visceral and captivating. I really liked her metaphors. She perfectly captures Cassie, a young, unhinged woman living with harm OCD. I was immediately taken with this novel by the end of chapter 1. I liked the alternating chapters between Cassie and Beth. I was so invested in Cassie's friendship/budding relationship with her high school best friend, Eli, whom she reconnects with a decade later. I liked their backstory, and as they grow closer as Cassie's returns home to New Jersey after she abruptly quits her publishing job in New York. Cassie felt like a real, raw person, she's complex, off-kilter, and has reoccurring thoughts of blood, gore, and violence. Beth is the deceased wife of Eli, and Beth's chapters reflect her religious upbringing, and how she inhabits Cassie's mind and body as a ghost later in the story. I usually don't like ghost stories, but this one was very subtle and not overdone. I liked Beth and Cassie equally, and I thought the ending was satisfactory and poignant. I will be thinking about this book for quite some time. It totally took me by surprise and got me out of a reading slump.

Thank you, Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC.

This is a pretty fantastic debut. We get a woman running from a queer relationship in the city that is in the process of failing, and her trying to lean into the Christian tradwife homeschooler for a widower and his two kids, and the ghost of the dead wife who watches this woman step into her life, and both of them starting to unravel the mystery of her death. Honestly, it doesn't wrap as clearly as I would have liked it to, and it feels like there was almost too much happening towards the end. Still a pretty great debut and one I'll be interested to see what the author does next.

We are haunted by a lot of things, and this is particularly true of Cassie, who is haunted constantly by a previous relationship with her ex-girlfriend and vicious, graphic images curated by her OCD. But she is also haunted by Beth both physically and figuratively.

I loved the concept of this book, the way it handled mental health like depression and OCD, its casual inclusion of queer relationships, coming out and discovering your own sexuality and the plot itself. I just wish the pacing had been a bit different. I felt like the best of the book was the last twenty percent and I wish the substance of that portion had started much earlier, which would have made the book more powerful and turned it into a can’t put down read. Even still, I loved the writing and both Beth and Cassie and seeing how differently their minds and beliefs work. This was a haunting but beautiful read.

If a book is compared to Bunny by Mona Awad, you can bet I’m in bc I know it’s going to be unhinged, wild, and a fever dream—and House of Beth by Kerry Cullen did not disappoint - thank you netgalley for the advanced copy!

“House of Beth” follows Cassie as she battles with her mental health and tries to identify where she fits in life. Following a breakup, Cassie moves back to her hometown on a whim and reconnects with her childhood best friend, Eli. The town is haunted by not only ghosts of her past, but also the ghosts that fill Eli’s life and home following the 10 years since Cassie and Eli have spoken. Cassie has to learn how to make herself fit in a life that was not carved out for her.

I loved this book! It was a little slow at first, but once I was hooked, I finished the rest of the book quickly! Eerie and mysterious, the story develops in ways that were unpredictable and imaginative. I will definitely be on the lookout for Kerry Cullen’s next work.