Lauren’s latest offering is an interesting combination of family drama, historical fiction and ghost story. It unfolds over a dual timeline and tells the story of two sets of sisters. In the modern day timeline Emma and Kate haven’t spoken for fifteen years, Emma has an accident and Kate is called up to help look after her children. She finds that Emma and her husband and have bought an old property called Rookswood House which they intended to renovate but it’s been put on hold after they split and Emma had her accident.

Kate is drawn to the house and experiences a number of spooky events. She discovers it once belonged to ‘The Weird Sisters’ and sets out to find more about them. I enjoyed learning about Victorian photography and the special effects of the time and meeting both sets of sisters and seeing their stories play out and connect. Lauren did a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere. It was nice to see that the romance element wasn’t quite the one you predicted at the beginning. An engaging story of sisters and mystery.

4 stars

Kate has been estranged from her sister Emma for years, but an accident in the house her sister had recently purchased brings Kate to town to temporarily care for her teenaged niece and nephew, Izzy and Max. Rookswood House - the Victorian manse Emma bought - had fallen into terrible disrepair; despite the physical dangers, Kate is inexplicably drawn in to its dark energy and the strange history regarding the Weird Sisters that once lived there...

Adaline and Camile are sisters, polar opposites yet fiercely devoted to one another. Their rather famous father pioneered some strange and unusual photography techniques for his clients, and took Ada under his wing to train her when she showed a precociousness for the creative medium. Even after their father left, the women continued the family business. "Spirit Photography" became their main stock and trade, and Ada was eccentric but brilliant at what she did. Quiet Camile would take care of the clients, and together they became known as the Weird Sisters.

This was a pretty excellent read; I enjoyed the storyline bouncing back and forth between characters and timelines to create a twisting, flowing narrative. The parallels in the sisters' stories were rather predictable (sigh, a man coming between two sisters?) but their situations treated differently enough that their outcomes were interesting and a worthwhile read. The other characters that revolve around the two sets of sisters are well-rounded and actually had me questioning what was truly going on. There's a plethora of atmospheric spooky vibes, some ghostly action, but can everything that's going on in Rookswood House really be attributed to the paranormal or is something happening a bit 'closer to home'?

Thanks to NetGalley, author Lauren Westwood, and Boldwood Books for giving me access to a digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

There are too many secrets in this house.

Kate is a famous London lawyer, focused on advancing in her career. However, a phone call is bound to change her life. When she is informed that her estranged sister, Emma, is heavily injured and there is no one around to take care of her two children, Kate decides to let go of her own grievances with Emma, lasting for fifteen years now, and help her out. See, the person responsible for this grudge –Emma’s husband, Kate's ex-fiance– is nowhere in the picture.

Kate moves to Emma's house in order to take care of her children, but just then, weird things start happening. Emma has a project in mind: renovating a house that is said to be haunted. The two sisters that used to live there have their own story, and Kate begins experiencing unnatural phenomena. But where does the paranormal end and the deception begin?

This is the ARC of a historical mystery set to publish on February 18th. It's atmospheric and keeps the reader invested, thanks to the dual storyline centered around sisterly relationships: the narrative of Kate in regards to the strained, and hopefully mending, relationship to her sister, and the narrative of Ada, a genius in photography, who made history for her special effects in a time when that was considered almost magic, and the declining relationship to her own sister. The parallels in the narrative are intriguing, and the paranormal element is properly tied to the story.

I enjoyed reading it! My thanks to Boldwood books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

photographer, photography, historical-mystery, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, dual-time-frames, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-history, sisters, law-enforcement, superstitions, supernatural, local-gossip, local-history, local-legends, atmospheric, teens, England****
Families are messy enough, but a pair of sisters in current and past dimensions is a nightmare. Each pair is contentious with each other and connected by shared trauma.
The historical facts on photography which were slipped into the story effectively are the most interesting parts of the story.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected ebook file from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Avail Feb 18, 2025
#TheHouseofLightandShadows by @lwestwoodwriter @theboldbookclub #NetGalley @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble **** Review #booksamillion @bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #historicalNovel #dualTimeLines #Discord #supernatural

The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood

A first time read by this author and a quick check up reveals she often writes
' house ' books , which I really like the sound of so will read her other titles as I enjoyed this one so much.I

The house ( as well as the sisters ) were good characters and the mystery and other spooky things going on added to the story.

An easy read , but very enjoyable .

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I couldn’t put it down! It is about 2 sets of sisters, trying to find thier way back to each other. The only thing that sets them apart is one set is dead. I enjoyed both stories of the sister and read it from beginning to end without stopping! It was a very easy and fun read!

Toxic Sisters: A Novel

I think the worst thing about this book was the predictability of why both sets of sisters were estranged: a man. Because instead of talking things through, hearing your siblings side of things, you just yell and tell them you hate them and never want to see them again. Over a boy. Like you're in high school.

The whole climax of the book fell way short. Yes there's a ghost, but there are also a couple teens who desperately need therapy. Kate finds out what happened to Ada's sister and their spirits join together to move on. Kate gets a new man, her and her sister make amends (after 15 years of estrangement) after about an hour of talking, and pretty much nothing happens to Charlie. And Max sets his sister on fire, but it's okay because he went to a shrink a few times??

An atmospheric and captivating old-house mystery, layered with romance and secrets.
Gripping, chilling and very, very satisfying
Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars.

The Author is new to me. I devoured this book - loved it. Well written in my humble opinion. Great characters and story line. Interesting with a good flow.

The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood is a stunning historical paranormal mystery that has more flips, turns and twists than you can imagine! This clever author kept me guessing right up until the final chapters. The riveting journey left me breathless, anxious and pinned to the pages! I love stories where old houses are the prime characters with tales to tell of its past inhabitants. Yes, the old saying of ‘if these walls could speak’ suits The House of Light and Shadows extremely well. Rookswood House presents its mysterious past through a heartbroken ghost, various photos and other belongings left behind within its dilapidated frame.

Ultimately The House of Light and Shadows is about relationships—particularly between sisters who have a falling out: two from the past and two in the present. The parallels between these four women are quite uncanny with the current day characters learning from the past sisters—of how important it is to make amends while you can. Love, forgiveness and understanding are the required ingredients and this becomes obvious as the tangle of complex threads come together in this mesmerising tale. I felt the paranormal mystery elements to be quite original in many ways. There were times the events pulled me off centre and what happened was not what I expected. And there were lots of spooky occurrences that kept me on the edge of my seat! But as is often the case, with smoke and mirrors, light and shadows, things aren’t always as they appear. It was an unusual reading experience to say the least. But by the close of the story everything made sense. I loved the ending! It exudes incredible warmth and healing, once the supernatural and physical realm are back in balance.

I enjoyed both threads of the story: past resident sisters Adaline and Camile plus current day sisters Kate and Emma. Both elder sisters, Adaline and Kate, tell their stories. Each experience a falling out or separation from their younger sibling. The importance of re-establishing those past connections becomes the focal point. Romances are in the mix, too, but more as a smouldering backdrop than centerstage.

Kate has been estranged from her sister for many years. But when Emma has an accident, Kate is called to care for Emma’s teenage children, Max and Izzy. Emma’s husband is overseas and we slowly learn more about the reasons for his absence. Initially Kate is hesitant to take up the task, for obvious reasons, but the pull on her heart is stronger. She temporarily leaves her lawyer practice to dutifully care for her sister’s children. She has not seen them since they were small, so their re-acquaintance is a bit awkward. Rebellious Izzy is compared to a younger Kate while Max appears to have his father’s charm. Even worse is the fact Kate must visit her sister in hospital, face her emotions and overcome the hurdles of what tore them apart.

Adaline and Camile, also known as the Weird Sisters for their penchant for the sensational and the macabre, were very close in the past. But something happened that caused a tear in their sibling relationship. Camile disappears and Adaline never hears from her again. This breaks Adaline’s heart and she is never able to fine peace even after she passes. Much of her paranormal activity is related to this but when she connects with Kate, things begin to take shape.

Special effects photography is an important part of the story’s plot and it was the Weird Sisters’ specialty that draws us like a moth to their light. I found the research on ‘photoshopping’ techniques of the Victorians quite informative, since I personally have an interest in photography. The novel demonstrates the talent these two women and others had at the time and how difficult it was to recreate their exclusive works.

This is a very creative and unusual story. One I am sure I will never forget. I enjoyed The House of Light and Shadows, its leading and supporting characters and twisty plot! I look forward to reading more of this author’s romantic historical house mysteries—filled with thrills, chills and haunting atmosphere! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This story is about a spooky historical mansion with a mystery and stories of hauntings. It is a story about two sets of sisters, their mistakes, family love and forgiveness. In the present day, Kate and Emma are estranged, in the past we have the story of the sisters Ada and Camille and their photography career, the two stories together created an intriguing read with a good level of character development and growth. The plot is cozy with mildly thrilling moments and held my attention so that I finished quickly as it had a mostly fast-paced plot.


Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Lauren Westwood does a fantastic job in writing this historical mystery novel, it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed figuring out what was happening. The characters had that charm and worked with the setting perfectly. I was invested in what was happening and was glad I got to read this.

This was a quick, light read. Ultimately it’s a story about sisters and what happens when they have a falling out (for small reasons). The ghost story is there, but it’s not a ghost story.

I enjoyed the paranormal elements of this book, and preferred the storyline in the past to that of the present. It is atmospheric and paced well. I did not care for the romances and would have preferred they be left out, but that is typical of a cozy mystery, as is the tidy wrap up at the end. 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The House of Light & Shadows follows main character Kate as she gets a call that her estranged sister has been hurt and her kids need a caretaker. Kate meets new family and learns they live in a gatehouse near a (super creepy) historic home. In the house, Kate experiences some haunting moments that lead her on a surprising path to healing old family wounds.

Readers who love good/evil, women in STEM, and books with several (!!) suspicious charters will enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The relationships between the sisters really resonated with my personal relationship with my own sister and I loved how that took precedent over romance. The characters were well formed and relatable and the plot was very well thought out and didn't feel rushed or unexplained. All loose ends tied up. I liked it so much that I'm going to read another book by the same author now. I'd like to thank Netgalley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy to read and review.

This is a great example of a book that I wanted to enjoy way more than I actually ended up.

The central premise of the story is really intriguing as it follows the lives of two pairs of sisters from different time periods connecting by an old house in an England. The relationships between the sisters are a clear mirror of each other which sets the reader up to prematurely jump to conclusions which initially keeps you guessing.

Unfortunately, for me, outside of the main premise the book starts to flounder. The main character in the modern era, Kate, just comes across as poorly written. She is a successful London based lawyer yet her interactions with people come across consistently bratty and immature with her constantly jumping to conclusions and making snide comments. On top of this there are two male characters both of whom she immediately seems to chase romance with which just seem unnecessary to the plot.

The other set of sisters are much better written in my eyes and I found myself significantly favouring their chapters. I found myself reading up on Victorian photography methods and effects in response.

The conclusion, when it comes, feels a tad rushed and predictable in the end. It’s a shame really because it definitely has the bones of a great story. That being said I can definitely see it making a good holiday read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC

This was my first book by this author, and I was so pleasantly surprised! I love when an interesting house is a character in a book. This fit the bill of cozy and suspenseful but without a hint of cheesiness. Loved the writing style, and the intelligent approach to the paranormal. Will absolutely be returning for more from this author!

⋆ ✧ . 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 . ✧ ⋆

📷 📷 📷📸 (3.5/5)

📖: The House of Light and Shadows
✍️: Lauren Westwood

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾.

💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This was an atmospheric and captivating story right from the start. I was instantly drawn in by the backstory of the falling out between two sisters and how after everything, one still came running to help the other at her time of need. I enjoyed the cozy mystery and paranormal elements of this book and appreciated the humanization of the spirit depicted in the writing. It was interesting to take a deep dive into the mind of the ghost versus just the haunted. The notion that humans are actually the most harmful beings was something that stuck with me. Though I did enjoy this book, I felt things were tied up just a bit too neatly with a pretty bow at the ending. It felt a bit rushed at that point but overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who’s into a little bit of mystery but wants to keep things light.

I found this book very unsettling. The interplay between characters was disturbingly controlling on the part of the elder sisters. I think on the whole I did not particularly like it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A dual timeline novel featuring 2 sisters years apart and the haunted house that links them. It wasn't what I thought I would read...I finished it. Didn't care for it, didn't care for the characters. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.