Generally well written and interesting narrative concept. My only criticism is the pacing and world building. It took far to long for the actionable events and I was not satisfied with the explanation (or lack there of) of the supernatural events and plot resolution.

A ghost story like you've never seen before!
I had a great time reading this multi POV story of three very different characters one of which is the ghost!
The author did a fantastic job portraying multiple timelines as well as perspectives making for an overall thrilling read.
A great blend of psychological horror and supernatural suspense with an atmospheric house and setting will have you staying up late into the night to finish this!

It Was Her House First is a unique spin on the haunted house story that explores the long-term effects of grief and loss. Cherie Priest is one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to see she was writing a new book; and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

When Ronnie buys a dilapidated mansion to try to cope with the loss of her brother, she expects to face renovations; but she doesn’t expect to encounter ghosts. Though several ghosts haunt the halls of her new home, one is the most frightening and powerful: Venita, a former silent film star who suffered terrible loss in this home and is intent on getting her revenge even from beyond the grave. Ronnie will have to fight through her own grief to claim her home- and possibly to save her soul.

Told through multiple POVs, this story paid homage to the classic haunted house genre while creating a story that felt fresh and new. Cherie Priest is a queen of atmosphere, and her talent was fully displayed in this book; what could be more atmospheric than a haunted house? While there are definitely creepy moments, I would say this book is more gothic than horror; the painful, potentially destructive nature of grief is the key theme throughout the story rather than things that go bump in the night (although there are plenty of those). The realistic portrayal of grief and loss grounds the reader in a setting that feels very real, making the creepy parts of the story more impactful. I also loved that one of the POVs was from a ghost; I don’t remember reading anything like that before, and I really enjoyed the twist on the genre. While The Drowning House is still my favorite Cherie Priest book, It Was Her House First is another great addition to her work, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

I would recommend this book to readers who love ghost stories, gothic vibes, and creepy, atmospheric houses.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

This book has great prose, and it definitely made me feel, which is what I go into writing for. I think I got too excited about the idea of Priest’s books and this one was just not for me. It’ll definitely be for someone.

I have always been a fan of Cherie and all her books have been great. I only wish she didn't wait so long with new material. I loved The Toll and this one was just as good. Officially creeped out.

I never thought I'd say I found a story about a haunted house a fun read, but that was before I read It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest. It Was Her House First is a story about a haunted house with all the requisite chills and thrills that come with that. But, it is also the story of how two very different women in different times cope with their grief over the unexpected and tragic loss of a loved one and how that grief can make you do things you never thought possible.

It Was Your House First gives us the unique perspectives of three very different people who have inhabited the aforementioned house of the title. The first point of view is Ronnie Mitchell, a grieving woman in the present day who buys the run-down mansion with the intent to renovate it to its former glory. The second point of view is Bartholomew Sloan, an investigator and friend of the original owners. Bartholomew has a complicated relationship with the owners and dies in the house in the 1930s. His death was ruled a suicide, but was it? Finally, we get the perspective of the house's original owner Venita Rost. Venita was a beautiful and glamourous old Hollywood silent film star who lovingly built the house for her family. Tragically Venita's young daughter dies in the house under mysterious circumstances. In her grief, Venita is pushed over the edge and makes some highly questionable yet understandable decisions which lead to the haunting of the house. While Ronnie's and Bartholomew's perspectives are told in the first person, Venita's is told through her diary entries which Ronnie reads. This adds an interesting element and is a nice alternative perspective. I loved that the author told the story this way as it really allows the reader to experience the house's past and present and makes for a more well-rounded story.

Most of the story unfolds through Ronnie's perspective. This works well because Ronnie is a funny and smart narrator, even if she can be frustrating at times. Through Ronnie, we experience the "haunted" part of the house as she slowly realizes she just might not be the only inhabitant of her neglected mansion. Ronnie's chapters give us plenty of the chills you'd expect from a story about a haunted house and there are some truly tense moments throughout. Bartholomew's and Venita's chapters aren't nearly as fleshed out and I found myself wanting to hear more from them, particularly Venita. I enjoyed learning about Venita through her diary entries as they allow us to get an inside view of her true thoughts, feelings, and motivations for her actions following the death of her daughter. I felt that Bartholomew's chapters were the weakest, but they still added to the story, and he has a fairly large part to play in the satisfying conclusion to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed It Was Her House First. The author does an excellent job of seamlessly weaving together multiple perspectives, timelines, and stories that make for a satisfying and fun read that had me turning pages well into the night. Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Cherie Priest for the opportunity to review this ARC.

i really had a good time with this story. i like a good super natural thriller with a ghost pov. with him tryng to talk but no one hears him.

I really enjoyed this one! Ronnie is trying to overload her anxieties and distract her mind from a very terrible thing that she feels responsible for, so she buys a decrepit house. Unbeknownst her the house is filled to the brim with ghosts. Venita, the silent film star who is one of the resident ghosts is a force to be reckoned with. I really liked the even pacing of this as well as how this story handles grief and anxiety.

I was immediately pulled into It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest. The opening chapters are dripping with atmosphere—moody, tense, and beautifully eerie. The setting was pitch-perfect, and the slow build of suspense had me totally hooked.

Unfortunately, that momentum didn’t last. As the story progressed, the tension began to fizzle, and the plot turned repetitive. The same beats kept hitting over and over, and what started as chilling and compelling slowly became a bit of a slog. I found myself skimming through sections, hoping things would pick up again—but they never quite did.

Overall, I think the book had a strong start and a lot of potential, but it lost its edge in the second half. Still, if you enjoy slow-burn horror with a rich sense of place, it might be worth checking out.

It Was Her House First is a refreshing and very interesting take on the well-trodden haunted house path. Along with Ronnie's POV as she discovers that she's not alone in her new home, we also get the ghosts' thoughts as well. It was creepy and atmospheric, and I found myself really looking forward to reading it each night in bed. It's a quick read--I finished in about 3 nights. I loved the PacNW setting and all of the details about this gorgeous, dilapidated, west Seattle home. Plus, extra points for a ghost cat.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a very atmospheric haunted house story. It was entertaining and informative enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I absolutely loved this read! This book is what every haunted house movies dreams are made of. The multiple POVs was great. I could not put this book down. I found myself reading this every chance I got. Also, I wish I could see this house in person! It sounds beautiful!

This scared the bejeezus out of me and i loved it! It was so well done i couldn't put it down.
Kept me guessing until the very end.

Cherie Priest’s It Was Her House First is a fresh and chilling take on the haunted house trope. The story follows Ronnie, who buys an old home sight unseen, unaware of its dark history. Trapped by a snowstorm and eerie occurrences, she quickly realizes she’s not alone.

What sets this novel apart is its unique twist—giving us the ghost’s point of view, breaking the traditional mold of the genre. Priest masterfully builds tension, creating an atmosphere so unsettling it’s impossible to put down.

i really enjoyed this! i’m a sucker for a haunted house story. esp ones involving angry spirits, and a reminder that you can never trust a man 😤 this was creepy and very entertaining. the writing and format was interesting, couldn’t put it down. thank you to the publishers for the ARC.

This was such a fun ride to be honest I’m not a sucker for Huaunted house vibe but this one did an amazing job with this premise! I read it in one sitting but the protagonist in this book was a bit annoying to me and the ending got me for real 🔥

this was a good book! It was a bit creepier and actually scarier than I thought it would be. I liked the thrilling moments and how it felt so eerie while reading it. Overall it was good!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

It Her House First was a really interesting read for me. I enjoyed how the author slowly gave me pieces of the story…..I just wanted to keep reading and I love that feeling when reading a book! I liked how the author flipped back and fourth from points of view of the ghost and the current resident of the house! I also enjoyed reading the diary entries. I will definitely read from this author again!

Ronnie buys a very old and decrepit house. She recently lost her brother and this massive project will give her focus and a purpose. Fix it up while respecting the grand house where Venita Rost, an actress once lived… and died. But not everyone is happy with her plan…
Bartholomew Sloane also died in this house. Once a good friend to Venita and her family. But when she feels that he is responsible for taking the one thing she loved most in the world… Well, hell have no fury. She may be dead, but she is not done with evil men who invade her house.
This was a book I really enjoyed! My partner, and I have DIYed two houses, and the endless problems and money needed was very well depicted. In addition, we learned what happened to Venita all those years ago, through her own words.
A very eerie atmosphere, and while it was too late to change Venita’s outcome, I kept my fingers crossed the whole time for Ronnie.

I really thought nothing would top the toll. But I’ll be damned priest has done it again. This book was such a thrilling, fun, and haunting haunted house read. A story I feel could only be pulled off by priest and her writing style. I can’t wait to see what comes next.