Thank you so much to NetGalley and Cherie Priest for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for It Was Her House First coming out July 22, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoy this author. I love spooky, creepy books. I liked the first half of the book, but I wasn’t as into the plot. I was thinking it would be a little spookier. I would check out other books by this other.

We follow the POV of three characters; Ronnie (the new owner of the house who's purchased it at auction in an unseen condition), Venitia (an old silent movie actress and the first owner of the house) and Inspector Bartholemew Sloan who was murdered and remained tied to the house).
After the loss of her brother, Ronnie uses the money he left her into renovating a house she's drawn to. But her arrival stirs up ghosts of the past, unveils a mystery and leaves her in danger between a ghost hell bend on revenge and a sinister living threat that's becoming more and more desperate as time goes by.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this digital e-arc.*

Thank you to NetGalley, Cherie Priest, and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC. Wow—this horror thriller was fantastic! I’m a huge fan of a good haunted house story, and this one delivered. I loved the dual perspectives—one from a ghost and the other through a diary—as all the eerie pieces slowly came together. A chilling and unforgettable must-read!

I received a complimentary ARC copy of It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest from Net Galley & Poisoned Pen Press in order to read and give an honest review.

… I have to say, It Was Her House First is a compelling and uniquely told supernatural tale that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a slow-burn haunting with a fantastic character at its heart.“ …

It Was Her House First tells the story of Ronnie, who takes on the overly ambitious task of restoring a dilapidated victorian era house after receiving an inheritance from her recently deceased brother. As she tackles the renovations, Ronnie finds an unexpected ally and friend in her brother’s former fiancée Kate. However, their efforts are complicated by the arrival of a stranger who inserts himself into her and Kate’s lives for reasons that Ronnie is suspicious of, which adds another of layer of suspense to the already eerie atmosphere. What begins as a seemingly straightforward renovation project gradually unveils a deeper, more unsettling truth about the home’s sorted past. As Ronnie meticulously works through repairs, she starts to uncover the lingering presence of spirits, particularly those connected to the enigmatic Venita, whose diary entries offer chilling glimpses into the house’s history and its spectral inhabitants. The narrative slowly builds from a focus on physical restoration to a compelling exploration of the supernatural, revealing the house’s secrets and the unique way its former residents continue to make their presence known.

I finished It Was Her House First in a day, and I’ll have to admit, it’s a book that truly gets under your skin in the best possible way. While it starts out at a slow pace, dedicating a good portion of its early chapters to protagonist Ronnie’s meticulous efforts to restore her new (old) home, don’t let that deter you. This initial focus on the house’s dilapidated state and its slow transformation sets a deliberate, almost atmospheric, stage. The main character, who is strong yet vulnerable, especially when she struggles with and overcomes her anxiety, truly made the character relateable as well as believable for me.

The real magic, for me, began around the halfway point when the story truly embraced its supernatural elements. The way the haunting aspects were introduced was incredibly captivating. It wasn’t a sudden jump scare; instead, the author masterfully wove in the spectral occurrences with a slow, creeping dread that had me eagerly turning pages to uncover the mysteries within. The unique approach to revealing the spirits and their presence was a definite highlight, standing out from typical ghost stories.

One of my absolute favorite aspects was the inclusion of Venita’s diary entries. I’m a huge fan of “voices from the past” books, and these entries were a brilliant addition. Venita herself quickly became my favorite character. Her throwback to old glamour and an undeniable larger than life personality brought such a distinct energy to the narrative, and I was thoroughly pleased with how her storyline concluded. Ultimately, It Was Her House First left a strong impression, earning a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars from me (rounded up). While I thoroughly enjoyed the unique haunting and character development, as I mentioned earlier I felt it dragged a bit in the beginning.

I have to say, It Was Her House First is a compelling and uniquely told supernatural tale that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a slow-burn haunting with a fantastic character at its heart.

Yep! Ghosties and paranormal activities! Not usually my thing. BUT, when I go in to the book knowing that this is what I'm getting, and when the writing is as wonderful as it was here, I thoroughly enjoy a good gothic haunted house story! I will say that, true to form for me, I enjoyed one timeline over the other. Too much time was spent building the past when it could have been done quicker with more time spent developing the present events. I loved the imagery provided when Ronnie sees Venita! While I don't read a lot of this type of book, this felt unique and inventive. I also liked the strong relationships Ronnie built with both the ghosts and with Kate! That gave the story a much more rounded feel.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen and the author for the arc!

This was a fun & unique twist on your typical haunted house story … and I ate it right up! I blew through the pages to find out how everything unfolded … right to the wham-bam ending!!

I love cringy tales about houses with a dark past, angry & vengeful personalities that keep residence there & deep, dark secrets just waiting to come to light! The characters in this one really fit the bill! Being let in on the POV of one of the ghosts was a treat & to have the lady of the manor tell her story through an old diary really added to the experience & kept things dramatic!

I would have loved to know more about Bart's "deal” & the mirror & Prissy’s death ... I feel like taking those parts a little deeper would have rounded everthing out perfectly! Overall, this wild ride is creepy (but not too creepy) and deliciously atmospheric with all the right elements of suspense! A solid gothic thriller!

A well-paced, classic ghost story. Woman buys decrepit house that multiple people have died in/around, starts to fix it up, spooking ensues. I liked that it aimed more for standard story telling that happens to have ghosts as characters, rather than a scary/thriller is it/isn't it ghosts approach. There are still some mystery/thriller aspects to the story, they're just not specifically about the presence of the ghosts. Instead we get a dual timeline between the present day and the diary entries of the silent-film star who built the house, with occasional interjections from another of the house's deceased occupants. Ronnie battles anxiety and guilt over her brother's death and has a lot to unpack emotionally at the same time she's dealing with the logistics of reconstruction. It makes for a well-rounded story that's entertaining from start to finish.

This book was so delightful and different. The ghosts were subtle, and the story unraveled slowly. The house is a beauty, rundown and in need of lots of work and love. Ronnie is the new owner. She will fix the house with the money she inherited from her dead brother. His fiance and her friend Kate. We also learn all the back stories of Venita Rost, a former film star, Bartholomew Sloan, inventigator and murderer and Ronnie herself.

Beautiful stories, gorgeous creepy decrepit house, ghosts, and a stranger who wants the magic that the house provides Bartholomew and was the reason for his success.
Overall, a jem and such an amazing read. Thank you, Netgalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for this magnificent ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

3.7/4
This was such a uniquely different take on a haunted house story—told through three perspectives: Ronnie’s sharp, sarcastic voice; ghostly Bartholomew’s regretful watchfulness; and Venita’s chilling diary entries.

While the story had a slower start and never leaned fully into the scares I was hoping for, the pacing, layered plot, and Ronnie’s dry humor made it a solid and memorable read.

Ronnie doesn’t know it yet, but her fate rests in the hands of the dead.
Once a glamorous silent film star, Venita Rost now haunts her decaying cliffside mansion—trapping souls and unleashing her rage. Bound to the estate is Inspector Bartholomew Sloan, cursed to watch her torment unfold in helpless horror.

Now Ronnie’s the new owner. And Venita has awakened.

Caught between a vengeful ghost and a ruthless living threat, Ronnie’s skepticism starts to crack. Because in this house, the line between life and death is thin—and survival might be nothing more than an illusion.

Overall this was a creepy, cinematic, and claustrophobic read that kept me hooked especially as it spiralled into full blown mayhem.

I do enjoy a haunted house.

It Was Her House First is a somewhat modern ghost story, dealing with grief and regrets. With three perspectives, Ronnie - the new owner, Venita - via diary entries, and Bartholomew Sloan - the house ghost, we get a full overview of the home. We see the past via Venita and Bartholmew and we watch Ronnie renovate the home, extensively.

The home renovations are...frankly boring. Ronnie does a bit too much, in describing her past and what is going on. It's almost like watching a show with a voiceover, over-explaining details that don't really matter.

I think this had potential but fell very flat for me. I need more in a haunted house.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

This book was absolutely bananas! Ronnie has gotten a small inheritance and decides to make a lifelong dream of her deceased brother's come true with the buying of an old house with the intention to restore it. The house has a complicated and violent history which Ronnie is mostly unaware of and she's definitely unaware that the ghosts of several of these people are still inhabiting the house with various motives.
There's a lot of build up as we get to know Ronnie and the state of the house. I also liked hearing Bartholomew Sloan's take on all the events both in his lifetime and then as his role as ghost/guardian/watcher. There's a lot about home renovation (and quite a lot that confirms that while I love old homes I do not have the guts to restore one fully) and the evolution of the house.
The tones of the story are Gothic-y and forbidding but it never gets super scary or particularly intense. While I did enjoy the feel of the story and most of the characters it's a fairly slow build. The blurb kind of oversells the scariness of the story and it's definitely a bit slower than expected. Overall, even though this wasn't quite what I expected I did enjoy the book and I will definitely read more from this author.

Unique approach to a haunted house story, though the pacing seemed off. The multiple perspectives was entertaining, and it was very well written. The main character, Ronnie was not particularly likable, but the mystery and the climax was entertaining

By gar, it’s a good old fashioned haunted house story. The scares here are more psychological than jump; the reader knows more about what’s going on than the main character, but also, the main characters know more about their own backstories than the reader. Which is normal, I guess, but what is scary is the way these backstories meet up and intertwine to create the physical and psychological danger the (alive) MCs face.

The book jumps back and forth in time, and between points of view of the main character Ronnie and one of the ghosts haunting the house she’s bought sight unseen as a fixer-upper. I was intrigued from the first chapter and the way Venita’s machinations triggered the eventual actions of the book. The story picked up steam as it continued, revealed its secrets, and put Ronnie through the wringer. I highly recommend this book!

Cherie Priest's latest novel, "It Was Her House First," is a creepy, slow-burn ghost story with a sharp edge. The story follows Ronnie Mitchell, a woman looking for a fresh start after a personal loss. She decides to purchase an old, crumbling mansion without knowing its history. The mansion is haunted by ghosts, including its original owner, Venita Rost, a long-dead silent film star who is not ready to let go of her house or her grudges.

Priest does a great job of blending classic haunted house vibes with something a bit weirder and more psychological. There is an atmosphere of dread that builds up as Ronnie begins to realize she is not alone, and that both the dead and the living have their own twisted reasons for messing with her. Alternating the narrative between Ronnie and the ghostly figures stuck in the house’s past, which helps to give the story layers.

"It Was Her House First" is perfect for readers who enjoy gothic-feeling haunted house stories with a bit of mystery, featuring strong female leads. This story is spooky, smartly written, and full of tension.

It Was Her House First had a really interesting premise that really drew me in from the start. It's told in multi-POV with diary entries for flashbacks. The diary entries are really beautifully written. As a whole, I don't know that this was the book for me. That pacing was really slow. It felt like it took to about 50% of the book for anything to truly start happening. Once it started though it just felt a little like too much going on. There was hauntings, renovations, nefarious neighbors and magic. It was just really busy. I think there was a lot of potential here but it just didn't live up to my expectation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I quite enjoyed The Drowning House, so I was very excited to see that Cherie Priest was writing another haunted house book, and absolutely thrilled to get the opportunity to review an advanced copy. If anything, I liked It Was Her House First even better! Priest delivers on every level you’d want a haunted house book to deliver on. The vibes are immaculate, and the rising tension as the characters get more entwined with the house is very well paced.

Priest is working with a limited cast--we have Ronnie, who has inherited some money after her construction contractor brother Ben died. She uses it to buy a decrepit old mansion at auction. As she and Ben’s fiance begin work on the house, they learn the story of the starlet, Veronica, who lived in the house in the 1930s with her husband, child, and a mysterious detective houseguest. By the end of the story, all four of them were dead, and some of them...well they never left the house. After all, it was Veronica’s house first, and why should she give way to a millennial just because she bought it at auction? Something evil happened in that house, and in addition to a new roof and plumbing upgrades, this house may also need an exorcism.

If you are a fan of Mexican Gothic, Isabel Cañas, or scrolling through cursed looking houses on zillow, you’ll also enjoy this beachy summer read.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for this honest review.

This was my first Cherie Priest novel, but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this horror novel. Not only did it have fantastic writing that gripped me throughout the whole book, it had really interesting and complex characters.

I loved the relationship between Ronnie and Kate and I thought the Sloan And Venita Rost were equally interesting and I never disliked jumping back and forth in the timeline. I thought it was seamlessly down and everything came together really well.

I thought this was a really unique take on the haunted house story and because it captivated me, I really want to read all of other Cherie Priest's novels moving forward.

Ah yes, the ole’ summerween vibes.

It Was Her House First is the story of a house with a lot of secrets. This immediately started with a bang and I loved the idea of our current day MC being so self-sufficient and smart. It’s not a common trope in haunted house stories, if we’re being real. Love to see a reno queen.

I did think that the story lagged a bit in the middle, it didn’t keep up that terrifying, ghost riddled feel. I think it could have used a few more scares and eerie feelings.

Ultimately, this was a fun book. Great for a quick creepy read, and there was enough intrigue to keep the story going. Lots of people with secrets and lots of layers to discover!

This one had all the ghostie vibes I love!!! 👻

Loved the FMC Ronnie and the ghostly characters! If I owned a haunted house, this is how I’d want the ghosts to be! 😅

Cherie Priest knows how to write a great ghost story! Definitely recommend checking this one out if ghosts or haunted houses are your thing, like me! 👏

Thank you to partner Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted physical copy as well as NetGalley and Cherie Priest for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️