A beautiful spooky book. I loved Shannon and her devotion to her little Hazel. This book was just the right amount of scary. Tom was my absolute fave. What a perfect character. I loved the ending.

Now that is a damn good book!! Loved the eery settings, the back and forth characters was great as I loved both womens stories, super creepy! My heart did break for both of them ( the husbands ) but both very strong characters. Never will I ever buy a baby camera monitor again!! Super suspenseful and overall great story definitely need more like this.

This was such a good read, I read it almost in one sitting! It has just the right amount of mystery and horror that kept me on edge and eagerly wanting to know what new horrors would be uncovered next. I absolutely devoured it and couldn't get enough!

This book read like a movie! It was so good and gave me the creeps to the point where I didn't want to read it if I was home alone. This is definitely in my top 5 favorite horror books! Thank you so much to the publisher and author, Gwenna McAllis for this early copy. I loved it!

This was such a creepy read!! I loved Shannon and Tom! It was such a beautiful ending!! I was legit creeped out by this story when reading at night!!

This book is binge-worthy in the truest sense. I planned to read a chapter or two and suddenly I had finished the whole thing 🤣

What makes this story hit so hard is how relatable the motherhood themes are. The exhaustion, the fierce protectiveness, and the way your entire world shifts when you bring a baby home all feel painfully real. That emotional honesty grounds the horror and makes it feel uncomfortably close to home. If you’re a mother, especially, some moments will sink right into your chest and stay there.

The atmosphere is spooky as heck. The house feels like a living, breathing presence—watchful, patient, and unsettling. The tension builds slowly and relentlessly, weaving the past and present together in a way that keeps you questioning what darkness is…

The spiritual element takes the story to another level. The supernatural experience feels intense and almost wild, adding a deeply personal and emotional layer to the story. It doesn’t just scare you—it pulls you in, making the danger feel intimate and like you need to question every little sound your real house makes.

There’s also a powerful exploration of marriage, isolation, and how women’s voices can be dismissed across generations. That emotional weight gives the horror depth and makes it linger long after the final page. Which, had me wanting a sequel…

If you love demonic stories with motherhood at the center, and chills that creep in quietly and refuse to let go, this is an absolute must-read. Sleep may be optional… but worth it. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

The House on Sunflower Lane is one of those books that quietly pulls you in and then refuses to let go. From the very first pages, the atmosphere is rich and immersive, with a sense that something meaningful (and maybe unsettling) is just beneath the surface. McAllis has a real gift for creating characters that feel deeply human, flawed, and easy to care about, which makes every emotional turn land even harder.

The story unfolds with a steady, confident pace, layering mystery, heart, and reflection in a way that feels natural rather than forced. I especially loved how the setting itself feels alive, almost like a character of its own, shaping the story as much as the people do. Thoughtful, engaging, and beautifully written, highly recommended. This is what nightmares are made of.

The House on Sunflower Lane is a tender, quietly powerful story about grief, second chances, and the unexpected ways a place can heal you. Gwenna McAllis delivers a heartfelt narrative that feels both intimate and comforting — like sitting on a sun-drenched porch with a cup of tea and memories you’re finally ready to unpack.

At its core, the novel explores what it means to return — to a home, to a past version of yourself, and to emotions you thought you had buried. The house itself becomes more than a setting; it’s almost a character, holding secrets, nostalgia, and the weight of unfinished conversations. McAllis writes with a softness that allows the emotional beats to unfold naturally rather than dramatically, which makes the story feel authentic and grounded.

The strength of the book lies in its emotional realism. The characters aren’t perfect, and their growth isn’t rushed. There’s a quiet resilience in the protagonist’s journey, especially in how she navigates loss while slowly allowing hope back into her life. The romantic elements (if you enjoy subtle, slow-burn connections) are handled with warmth and maturity, adding depth without overshadowing the main emotional arc.

If I had one small critique, it would be the pacing in the middle section, which leans more reflective than plot-driven. However, readers who appreciate character-driven fiction will likely see this as part of the book’s charm.

Overall, The House on Sunflower Lane is a gentle, emotional read perfect for fans of women’s fiction and stories about healing and rediscovering yourself. It’s not loud or dramatic — it’s soft, sincere, and quietly hopeful.

Perfect for: readers who love cozy settings, emotional depth, and stories about starting over. 🌻

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this creepy, atmospheric book which is told from dual timelines from two different mothers and explores the lengths they are prepared to go to to keep their daughters safe.

This book drew me in from the first page and I found myself frantically turning the pages to see how it ended.

I'd recommend this book if you enjoy supernatural, spine chiling stories, it was definitely right up my street!

A mother's instinct is to protect her child at all costs, and her worst nightmare is to have her child disappear-not knowing where her child is,  what is happening to her child, imagining her child calling for mommy.   Calls that go unheard. The exhausting need to wait and wait, perhaps forever, for your child to somehow return to you.The House Sunflower Lane has a history that is unknown to buyers over the years.  This story follows Fern in the 1060's, and Shannon in 2020.  Both move into the house with high hopes and their loving husbands, and both see their loving husbands withdraw and then suddenly leave.  The women are left alone with the house and a baby daughter....daughters who develop an odd fascination with surrounding woods...like the mythical Eldritch Forest that whispers to you in an attempt to pull you in amongst their dark twisted trees and mind-bending phenomena.The house and barn appear to have lives and motives of their own as well.  These young mothers feel watched.  Their children talk to entities that only they can see.  I was hesitant to start this 400ish page book, but I had been wanting to read a good haunted house book, so I gave it a go.  Well, I could not put it down!   I was invested from the first sentence.   Exquisite storytelling and effectively spooking and suspenseful.  An excellent binge for the haunted house fan.Than you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review this mind-bending haunted house novel, #TheHouseOnSunflowerLane
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Wow. This book is REALLY good!! This book pulls you in and doesn’t let go and you won’t want to stop reading. It’s only February but I can say this will be one of my favorite reads of this year!

This one is a great quiet, psychological horror. It’s a great take on slow burn, haunted houses, slow creeping dread and the feeling of going silently insane.

I liked this one a lot! Great writing, descriptive and atmospheric themes as well.

This was a solid haunted house story. I liked that it was a slow burn, no gore or huge twists. I love an unsettling ending. I wish there was more character development and dialogue and action felt very repetitive.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing & Oracle Hawk Press for allowing me to read this book in advance of the pub date.

OOOOH this was a good one. This was my first Gwenna McAllis book and I was genuinely impressed. The House on Sunflower Lane moves between past and present, centering on Shannon, who quickly senses something is very wrong with the home she and her husband Marc just purchased. Marc begins acting strangely, locking himself in his study for days before abruptly leaving Shannon and their young daughter, Hazel. What initially feels like a domestic unraveling turns into something far darker as the evil tied to the house begins to channel through Hazel herself. Shannon is determined to uncover the truth and protect her daughter from whatever has taken hold.

I’ve read plenty of horror-ish books, but few have unsettled me the way this one did.

This book was one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read! Definitely top 5 (and basically all I read is horror so that’s saying a lot). Like, even laying in bed at night time with my two dogs and partner next to me I still could only get through a few pages without having to put my kindle away. I absolutely loved this book.

My only minor complaint (making this one a 4.5 stars instead of a 5) is I wish the ending and explanation for everything was wrapped up and explained a bit more.. but it still was a total home run regardless!

The House on Sunflower Lane is one of those rare novels that blends warmth and dread so seamlessly you hardly notice the shift—until you realise you’re holding your breath. Gwenna McAllis crafts a haunting, deeply human story that lingers long after the final page.

Shannon is a wonderfully sympathetic narrator, navigating new motherhood, a crumbling marriage, and the unsettling sense that her once‑charming farmhouse has turned its attention toward her baby. The early chapters capture that fragile, sleep‑deprived period of new parenthood with such tenderness, which makes the creeping unease all the more effective.

The dual timeline with Fern Carlisle adds a rich emotional layer. The echoes between their lives—two mothers, decades apart, both feeling the house closing in—are handled with real elegance. As Shannon uncovers Fern’s tragic story, the past and present begin to blur in a way that feels both chilling and heartbreakingly inevitable.

What I loved most is how the novel balances its supernatural tension with genuine warmth. This isn’t just a haunted‑house story; it’s a story about the fierce love of a mother, the weight of history, and the courage it takes to break a cycle that has claimed others before you.

Atmospheric, intimate, and quietly devastating, The House on Sunflower Lane is a beautifully written gothic mystery that wraps you in its embrace and refuses to let go.

with thanks to Gwenna McAllis, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

I enjoyed reading this novel. The characters were well developed and interesting. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Shannon and Marc, a young couple expecting their first child moves into...you guessed it...a house on Sunflower Lane. But this house has a violent, terrifying history that keeps repeating itself. After Marc ends up leaving his family, Shannon is left to take care of herself and her daughter in a house that wants to destroy them.

For the first 50% of the book, I felt extremely unsettled. This one was a slow burn in the best possible way. What helps with this is the novel alternates between Shannon's perspective and that of a former resident, Fern. Both women have such similar experiences even 60 years apart. McAllis draws these women in a way where we immediately sympathize with them and want them to overcome the terror of their experiences. We feel bad for them because they're seemingly helpless and dauntingly confused about why the house targets them.

It's the second half of the book that I had a little more difficulty with because instead of continuing the slow burn effect I felt in the first part, it felt more dragged out. I didn't think any part of the novel was bad. I still felt the concern I had throughout the rest of the book. This one just didn't do anything new with the "my house wants to hurt my family" trope. And that's okay because it was still an engaging story.

I will recommend this one because it is creepy, and it does develop characters that you care about. Check it out if you're interested in a slow-burn haunted house story.

Absolutely loved this book, it was spooky, unsettling, made me feel extremely uneasy about memories of my little sister speaking to something we couldn't see 😂. It's heartbreaking and really easy to get lost in the story and the characters, so many scenes had my heart racing and my mind screaming for them to get out of there but of course it's not that simple. The ending left me with so many questions and I can't wait to read more from Gwenna 🥰.

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that feel that I was looking for in a horror novel, it almost felt like the farmhouse was a character itself. It had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed in this universe, The characters had that element that I was expecting and enjoyed about this type of book. Gwenna McAllis was able to create something that worked and had a scary atmosphere to this and was glad I was able to read this.

The house on Sunflower Lane and the land it sits on is cursed. It should be called the house where hope goes to die. The book is both atmospheric and eerie yet heartbreaking at the same time.

We’re introduced to Shannon and her husband Marc who buy the house on Sunflower Lane as they’re expecting their first child. What seems like an exciting new beginning soon fades to misery as 2020 hits and we watch Shannon and Marc’s relationship wither at the same time something in the house awakens… something that very much wants their young daughter.

Their story mirrors that of another young mother who lived in the house on Sunflower Lane in the 1960s, Fern Carlisle. She too watched her marriage wither and then tragedy struck with the disappearance of her own daughter. Fern never got over the loss and never moved from the home, hoping that someday her daughter would return.

As readers take in these dual timelines and try to unravel the mystery of what is haunting the house on Sunflower Lane, lurking in the shadows to draw away its next victim, you can’t help but feel as if you are drawn right into the story, watching helplessly as events unfolds.

Overall I thought this one was both haunting and incredibly sad and I really, really enjoyed reading it! Shannon’s husband is the kind of horror movie husband that doubts anything is amiss, which is a trope I always enjoy. I also really enjoyed the ending, when you read it you’ll see but it’s that kind of heart-in-your-throat, eye-widening, “oh no” ending I secretly love in horror movies and novels. I definitely need to jump on this author’s previous books which have been sitting on my Kindle begging to be read.

Holy 5 star read! This book was deliciously good. The suspense was palpable. I had to read certain sections under my covers! If you are a lover of horror this book will thrill you; if you are a parent it will absolutely terrify you. The ambiance is dark even when the sun is shining. The characters are strong and well developed. I was heartened by the good people in this book who stepped up to help a single mother in need. The fear she must have felt being responsible for such a sweet child while dealing with things completely out of her control. I can’t recommend this creepy book enough! I need a sequel, stat!
Thank you to NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for letting me have an advanced copy to review!

I hadn't ever heard of this author or any of their stories but searching through NetGalley for a read and I saw the cover and the title of this story and I had to have it. I go into books blind so I did not know what this one was about in the least but I love sunflowers, and anything thriller/horror peaks my interest.

This story is about motherhood with some crazy paranormal twists and turns thrown into it. I really resonated with it because I, too, am a Mom with a 3 year old and I kind of pictured myself in there, especially having an older daughter as well - I felt like Fern.

Worth a read! I give it a 4/5 stars! It definitely had me wanting more!

This was SUCH a good book. I think that I liked it more because the timeline coincided with when I had my son, so I really could relate to and feel the emotions that were occurring alongside the FMC. Full of mystery and horror, and the time jumps were perfectly done. As much as sunflowers have always been my favorite, I think I will always think of this book when I see one.

Thank you #NetGalley and #OracleHawkPress for the ARC Copy in exchange for my honest review of this book.

Thank you #GwennaMcAllis for this book!!!!

I wish I could give this book ten stars!!!

I dont want to say much so I dont give anything away but READ THIS BOOK! A Candid and Enthusiastic Book Review

My honest review of this book? Hmmm, let me try to articulate the sheer excitement and profound impact this story had on me.

Without a shred of doubt, this is the ABSOLUTE BEST BOOK I’VE READ OF 2026! I do not make that statement lightly. From the moment I picked it up, I was completely swept away, utterly captivated by the world the author created and the deeply complex characters who inhabit it. The pacing was flawless, the prose was exquisite, and the plot—oh, the plot was a masterclass in suspense, emotion, and intelligent design.

I have already, and quite literally, told every single one of my friends about this book. My enthusiasm has reached a fever pitch, and I’ve even warned them that they may need to take a “sick day” from work on March 3rd. It's a genuine public service announcement: clear your schedule, disconnect from the world, and prepare to be consumed by these pages. It is the kind of book that demands your undivided attention, and I guarantee you won't want to be interrupted once you start.

A deep wave of sadness washed over me when I reached the final chapter and realized the story was over. That feeling of emptiness when a truly great reading experience concludes is a rare one, and it speaks volumes about the quality of this work. It’s one of those rare, magical books you immediately want to start reading over again, just to savor the brilliance a second time and pick up on the subtle clues and foreshadowing you missed in your initial, breathless rush to the end.

I am desperately trying to keep this review vague because I absolutely do not want to risk giving anything away. This book is best experienced going in blind, letting the twists and turns unfold naturally and completely blow you away. Trust me on this: READ THIS BOOK! It is a masterpiece, a triumph of storytelling, and it will be the book everyone is talking about this year. Do yourself a favor and experience it. You can thank me later.

#horror #mystery #thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I actually really enjoyed The House on Sunflower Lane. It was exactly the level of scary I like in a book, unsettling, atmospheric, and just creepy enough to have me side-eyeing my dark hallway while reading late at night… with the lights off… and the closet open. If you know, you know.

I read a lot of scary books, and this one genuinely got under my skin in a way that doesn’t always happen anymore. That alone says a lot.

I especially loved that this was a ghost story woven through multiple timelines. I’m always a sucker for that structure when it’s done well — the slow reveals, the connections clicking into place, the way past and present echo each other. I was definitely the ideal audience for this one.

There were a few areas where I personally wished the ending had been tied up just a bit more neatly, or where certain threads could have landed a little stronger. Nothing major — just a few moments that left me wanting a touch more closure.

That tiny “something missing” is the only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me… although I can’t quite put my finger on what that something is.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves a good ghost story, especially one layered across timelines with a strong atmospheric vibe.

Perfect for reading at night… if you’re brave enough

What a great read this was ! So grateful to the author and Netgalley for another amazing ARC.

Ill be honest, the first 25% of the book flew by like a quick life update and I questioned what could possibly take another 75% to unfold? The answer : quite a lot!

I did feel the tension to begin could have been built a little slower. I didnt care enough for it to impact me like it should have. Follwing this, The characters were very likeable and the story itself was very well done. It continued to build well as we learned about the three wives who suffered throughout different periods of time, all affected by grief and abandonment.

I loved reading each timeline, the letters and absorbing every characters story. The layers to the haunted house really brought together the power of these women and how they kept going despite the blame they placed upon themselves for the failure of keeping their families together.

However the ending itself , in which they attempt to end the cycle is extremely abrupt and unfortunately, I personally, felt it was anticlimactic.

That being said , I did devour this book and really enjoyed it over all. Fast paced, good writing and interesting plot with really likeable characters so I do recommend it and I will read more by this author .

This was an eerie, tragic, and haunting read. The beginning will resonate in a deep way to some new mothers. The feelings we may have towards a spouse, the utter exhaustion and sense of loneliness. This author hit it on the head. It was perfectly worded in a way that only a real writer can do.

This story took off quickly and kept a steady pace throughout. The atmosphere was claustrophobic and ominous. There were moments that were frightening and moments that were heartfelt. This portrayed a mother's love beautifully, through the good and the bad.
The characters were full of depth, and I could visualize every moment as if it were playing out in front of me. There were some things I felt were left unanswered, but otherwise, the ending was different and took a risk that worked well. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op, for this ARC.

It’s been a long while since I’ve read a truly engaging horror novel. This is the kind of horror story that speaks to you. It may be a slow burn, but I understand why the author structured it this way—to build the characters and allow readers to fully grasp the history and consequences that led to the plot.

I love that, although the story arc isn’t entirely new—since many horror novels and movies have explored similar themes—it didn’t fail to create a sinister atmosphere. There were several spine-chilling scenes that caught me off guard while reading alone at night. It helped that the Good Samaritan complex was used as a tool to connect with readers—one so poignant it was hard to ignore.

In the end, it became somewhat predictable. I wish the ending had addressed the obvious questions about the supernatural entity haunting the land. But then again, this book capitalizes on human frailty and the role of women—not just in society, but in the generational trauma that can even stir supernatural forces. There is a lot to unpack in this novel, and I dare say I am impressed.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #VictoriaEditingNetGalleyCoop for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Could not put it down! A tale of love conquering all and the strength of a mother’s protection. Also a tale of the heartwarming kindness of strangers. Don’t be fooled by that description though, also dark and spellbindingly eerie!