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.

This book is a unique haunted house novel that I could NOT put down! Ronnie and Kate were great characters, I loved the setting, and the story was very well written.

This was such a unique haunted house story! I absolutely loved that we got the POV of the ghost, and him trying to talk but no one could hear him. I also loved that we got Venita’s POV told through her diary entries. So fun!

I found myself thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it. Ronnie and Kate’s relationship was wonderful, I loved how they cared about each other. The house itself was what dreams are made of, if those dreams are dark and eerie. This was a great story! The only reason it’s not 5⭐️s is there were a few things I wish we had more clarity on.

This was a dark, chilling, impressive read. A terrific ghost story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

It really seems like Cherie Priest can do it all -- this one is definitely a haunted house book, but we also see some of how the house got to be that way. I liked the Seattle setting as I'm somewhat familiar with the city, sadly I am also familiar with home renovation so all those parts rang true as well (and increased the horror, at least for me). Wraps up in a satisfying way too.

Wow wow wow. I’ve head so many good things about this book and it didn’t disappoint. It was the perfect haunted house book. I like how all of the stories intertwined and eventually came together.

Such a great book. Couldn't stop reading it. Thank you for my advance reader copy. Can't wait to look up other books from this author.

First I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy!

Cherie Priest’s It Was Her House First sets up an intriguing haunted house premise with a clever twist—three POV characters: Ronnie, the new homeowner, and two undead former tenants who aren’t exactly thrilled about their new living situation. Ronnie buys an old house in a small town, hoping for a fresh start after her brother Ben dies, only to find herself sharing space with lingering spirits who refuse to pack up and leave. The result is a tense, eerie story that blurs the line between the living and the dead, as all three characters lay claim to the house in their own way.

Priest is a master at mood, and she absolutely nails the claustrophobic dread of being trapped somewhere you really shouldn’t be. The ghosts aren’t just passive observers—they have thoughts, agendas, and plenty to say, which makes for an interesting dynamic but also means there’s a lot of dialogue. The back-and-forth between characters keeps things moving, but at times, I wanted a little less conversation and a little more terrifying manifestations of the afterlife.

That said, it’s still a fun, eerie read, and Priest knows how to land a chilling moment when it counts. If you like your horror with a lot of banter, a slow-burn mystery, and a fresh take on hauntings, this one’s worth picking up. Just be prepared to hear everyone’s side of the story—whether they’re alive or not.

What a fun read ! I love reads where houses have potential hauntings, secrets and stories behind it! I also liked different format of writing, multiple povs, dual timelines and journal entries! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for arc copy of this book!