Book Review | Just Like Home

Vera is the grown-up daughter of a serial killer, but when she returns home to help her dying mother clean up her childhood home, old memories resurface. She begins to hear a voice calling her name and starts finding notes in her father’s handwriting. She can't tell if these messages are from her mother’s other house guest (who is a spiritual medium artist) or if her father's ghost is truly trying to communicate with her.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey is a psychological thriller meets non-conventional haunted house story that wonderfully captures our complicated relationship with family.

Ironically, it was Vera’s serial killer father who was kinder closer to her while her mother was jealous of the bond they had. Their relationship becomes even more strained when they’re stuck living together again with years of pent of resentment between the two of them.

However, it was the artist character that detracted from the story for me. I almost wish he had been removed entirely or given a less prominent role so the story could focus more on Vera reliving and confronting her past because that’s where the story shined most for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Nightfire, for providing with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : July 19, 2022

Publisher : Tor Books

IBSN: 1250174724

Pages : 352

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