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House at the End of the Street
Seeking a fresh start, newly divorced Sarah and her daughter Elissa find the house of their dreams in a small, upscale, rural town. But when startling and unexplainable events begin to happen, Sarah and Elissa learn the town is in the shadows of a chilling secret. Years earlier, in the house next door, a daughter killed her parents in their beds, and disappeared - leaving only a brother, Ryan, as the sole survivor. Against Sarah's wishes, Elissa begins a relationship with the reclusive Ryan - and the closer they get, the deeper they're all pulled into a mystery more dangerous than they ever imagined.
This novel includes a fold-out poster!
This novel includes a fold-out poster!
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2012
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1367 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
January 13, 2013
I normally don’t do the horror genre; films or books, gory themed ones I can cope with but the ones that mess with your head? I’m the first one out of the room. I blame it all on my cousin who insisted on us all watching a Stephen King film when we were younger late at night. Of course me being the youngest I didn’t want to be known as a chicken for the rest of my life, so I forced myself to watch it, occasionally having a peek through my fingers. Although I acted all brave I was a quivering mess afterwards and for weeks later always replaying the most horrifying scenes in my head over and over again. So from then I’d sworn off scary films especially the psychological thrillers, but as soon as I saw the trailer to House at the end of the Street I actually felt compelled into watching it. But another of my pet peeves is that I always have to read the book before watching the film, otherwise I can’t get back to reading the book. So I decided to block my nerves and give this book a try.
To be honest House at the end of the Street was a lot different to what I was expecting. It did take a while for things to get moving, but half way through things did start to kick off. Elissa’s mum abruptly makes Elissa move in the middle of the school year, she has to drop her friends for what her mum claims is the perfect house. When Elissa arrives she realises they’ve got a good deal for what they’re paying and her mum ensures her that she’ll be around more so that they can spend quality time together, but once again Elissa’s mum fails to keep her promises. Then there’s the creepy rumours surrounding the house next door, everyone warns her to stay away from Ryan, that he’s not right in the head, but Elissa sees something different in him no one else can.
This book was definitely twisted, I went in having a hunch with what would happen, but boy was I off the mark. This book sure provided some jaw dropping moments. House at the end of the Street was a book that even a scaredy cat like myself could deal with, It has some great twists, but does take a while before getting to the nitty gritty. I’ll definitely be watching the film now. Wish me luck.
To be honest House at the end of the Street was a lot different to what I was expecting. It did take a while for things to get moving, but half way through things did start to kick off. Elissa’s mum abruptly makes Elissa move in the middle of the school year, she has to drop her friends for what her mum claims is the perfect house. When Elissa arrives she realises they’ve got a good deal for what they’re paying and her mum ensures her that she’ll be around more so that they can spend quality time together, but once again Elissa’s mum fails to keep her promises. Then there’s the creepy rumours surrounding the house next door, everyone warns her to stay away from Ryan, that he’s not right in the head, but Elissa sees something different in him no one else can.
This book was definitely twisted, I went in having a hunch with what would happen, but boy was I off the mark. This book sure provided some jaw dropping moments. House at the end of the Street was a book that even a scaredy cat like myself could deal with, It has some great twists, but does take a while before getting to the nitty gritty. I’ll definitely be watching the film now. Wish me luck.
January 30, 2020
*This review can also be found on my blog, The Never-Ending TBR Pile: https://wendylohr.wordpress.com/2019/...
I'm not even sure what to write. The plot was uninspiring, the characters underdeveloped, and the climax underwhelming. I found the main character annoying and her relationship with her mother so full of teen angst it was unrealistic. I kept reading just to see what the deal was with Ryan, but I'm more disappointed than anything. This book just didn't do it for me.
I'm not even sure what to write. The plot was uninspiring, the characters underdeveloped, and the climax underwhelming. I found the main character annoying and her relationship with her mother so full of teen angst it was unrealistic. I kept reading just to see what the deal was with Ryan, but I'm more disappointed than anything. This book just didn't do it for me.
April 23, 2017
"Carrie Anne, Carrie Anne, Carrie Anne."
This book is all(most)about "Carrie Anne", a character that never really appears, but is everywhere!
Oddly, my favourite character is the villain.
Why? Because he is the only one that makes this story worth reading.
Ryan, whom first lost his little sister and blames himself for her death, later also lost both his parents. Nobody likes him, everybody avoids his company but want a piece of his cursed land. And, when he finally thinks he got himself a friend, everything falls apart and his most well kept secret is reveal destroing the life he was trying so hard to mantain.
Ryan serves as a good example of how we must be really careful about how we act and what we say to children.
We can doomed and change a child´s life based on our own selfishness and lack of responsability.
This story denunciate and points out the negligence and abuse of some parents and the terrible consequences that brings to children's behaviour.
This book is all(most)about "Carrie Anne", a character that never really appears, but is everywhere!
Oddly, my favourite character is the villain.
Why? Because he is the only one that makes this story worth reading.
Ryan, whom first lost his little sister and blames himself for her death, later also lost both his parents. Nobody likes him, everybody avoids his company but want a piece of his cursed land. And, when he finally thinks he got himself a friend, everything falls apart and his most well kept secret is reveal destroing the life he was trying so hard to mantain.
Ryan serves as a good example of how we must be really careful about how we act and what we say to children.
We can doomed and change a child´s life based on our own selfishness and lack of responsability.
This story denunciate and points out the negligence and abuse of some parents and the terrible consequences that brings to children's behaviour.
October 20, 2013
This was just about the shortest book I've read in a looooong time, which was fun. I really felt that I was reading more of a short story than anything else. I thought I'd try reading a "horror" novel just for kicks, and it turns out that this book was more a murder mystery than anything else, with some creepy characters, which was just enough scary for me. I don't like the supernatural horror stuff - it's just...horrifying!
Anyway, this book was fun. Kind of reminded me of a Jane Eyre plot twist on steroids. Plenty of mystery and scariness to keep turning the next page. Not bad for a book based on a screenplay originally. Now pardon me while I go lock my door.
Ya just never know.....
Anyway, this book was fun. Kind of reminded me of a Jane Eyre plot twist on steroids. Plenty of mystery and scariness to keep turning the next page. Not bad for a book based on a screenplay originally. Now pardon me while I go lock my door.
Ya just never know.....
April 9, 2024
3.5 stars
A very easy to read thriller, it had a fast pace and I found myself getting engrossed often. Much like the movie version though, it's very by the numbers and is nothing out of the ordinary. Would still recommend but don't expect it to leave a lasting impact on you.
Looking for a new start, Sarah and her step daughter move to a quite neighbourhood to avoid the hectic city life. She hears rumours about there next door neighbour being the only survivor after somebody killed his entire family. And when her daughter starts to get close to him she is fearful. Is the neighbour just a normal teen dealing with his traumatic past? Or is he more involved than it seems in the death of his family?
A very easy to read thriller, it had a fast pace and I found myself getting engrossed often. Much like the movie version though, it's very by the numbers and is nothing out of the ordinary. Would still recommend but don't expect it to leave a lasting impact on you.
Looking for a new start, Sarah and her step daughter move to a quite neighbourhood to avoid the hectic city life. She hears rumours about there next door neighbour being the only survivor after somebody killed his entire family. And when her daughter starts to get close to him she is fearful. Is the neighbour just a normal teen dealing with his traumatic past? Or is he more involved than it seems in the death of his family?
August 17, 2019
This was a super quick read, I finished it in a couple hours . It’s a good spooky story but nothing special 🤷🏻♀️The town was a little odd and I felt like the story moved fast.
August 20, 2012
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
While perusing Chapters this past weekend I came across House At The End of the Street, and seeing Katniss on the cover, I was immediately sold. I had never heard of the movie before but upon seeing the perfect horror movie cover and the eerie premise I knew this book was right up my alley. Now, one thing that did deceive me a tad was the "Now A Major Motion Picture" on the cover, I figured that this was a novel that was made into a movie after publication but instead it is actually a novel based off of the screenplay of the movie. It's a very quick read at only 188 pages, so it's not the most developed tale I have ever read but it plays out exactly as you would imagine the movie and kept me entertained the whole way.
This is a horror/mystery through and through, from the very beginning when we hear about what happened in Jacobsen home I was strapped in for the ride. We have all the elements to make for a good scare, a single mother moves into a upper class neighborhood with her daughter and hears all about their deep dark secrets. After Carrie-Anne Jacobsen fell off the swing and suffered head trauma she was never the same, she was unruly and she had to be strapped down for her own safety. One night she takes a hammer to her parents head and escapes out into the woods, legend has it that she died, but her body was never found. Now Carrie-Anne's brother, Ryan, lives in the very house that the tragedy happened in and is outcast from the whole neighborhood.
As I said, this novel is short so we don't have the most developed characters ever but the glimpses that we get into Elissa's past really makes her stand out and lets us understand her motivations as much as possible. I liked her, she was into music and didn't have the easiest life ever. It made sense to me why she was so empathetic to Ryan and didn't seem off kilter to me. We also have Tyler, the snobby rich kid who we are supposed to hate, and he came across perfectly too. For the small amount of pages I was really pleased with how much I came to understand the characters.
The mystery is what really drives this story throughout we know that something is amiss but I could not pinpoint it for the life of me. Once the truth came out I will say that I was suitably surprised and my mind had not once strayed that way in the duration of the novel. I would probably recommend seeing the movie before reading the book, because I do still want to see the movie and now I know how it ends. But none the less, it was an enjoyable, quick read that took me by surprise.
While perusing Chapters this past weekend I came across House At The End of the Street, and seeing Katniss on the cover, I was immediately sold. I had never heard of the movie before but upon seeing the perfect horror movie cover and the eerie premise I knew this book was right up my alley. Now, one thing that did deceive me a tad was the "Now A Major Motion Picture" on the cover, I figured that this was a novel that was made into a movie after publication but instead it is actually a novel based off of the screenplay of the movie. It's a very quick read at only 188 pages, so it's not the most developed tale I have ever read but it plays out exactly as you would imagine the movie and kept me entertained the whole way.
This is a horror/mystery through and through, from the very beginning when we hear about what happened in Jacobsen home I was strapped in for the ride. We have all the elements to make for a good scare, a single mother moves into a upper class neighborhood with her daughter and hears all about their deep dark secrets. After Carrie-Anne Jacobsen fell off the swing and suffered head trauma she was never the same, she was unruly and she had to be strapped down for her own safety. One night she takes a hammer to her parents head and escapes out into the woods, legend has it that she died, but her body was never found. Now Carrie-Anne's brother, Ryan, lives in the very house that the tragedy happened in and is outcast from the whole neighborhood.
As I said, this novel is short so we don't have the most developed characters ever but the glimpses that we get into Elissa's past really makes her stand out and lets us understand her motivations as much as possible. I liked her, she was into music and didn't have the easiest life ever. It made sense to me why she was so empathetic to Ryan and didn't seem off kilter to me. We also have Tyler, the snobby rich kid who we are supposed to hate, and he came across perfectly too. For the small amount of pages I was really pleased with how much I came to understand the characters.
The mystery is what really drives this story throughout we know that something is amiss but I could not pinpoint it for the life of me. Once the truth came out I will say that I was suitably surprised and my mind had not once strayed that way in the duration of the novel. I would probably recommend seeing the movie before reading the book, because I do still want to see the movie and now I know how it ends. But none the less, it was an enjoyable, quick read that took me by surprise.
August 17, 2018
Hell yeah. This book was pretty damn good! It was extremely easy to read and it was so fast paced I read it in one sitting! It reminded me of a Lifetime movie lol (not a bad thing because Lifetime is my guilty pleasure) It was a really simple story that will seem familiar to you if you read a lot of thriller/horror books, nothing that original. However, it was a fairly light, enjoyable and satisfying read! It IS slow in the beginning, but the stakes get high really fast and I was on the edge of my seat towards the end!! The plot twist was just WOW I did not see it coming! There were so many other surprises that made my jaw drop and I love how simple the writing was the whole way! The characters were not too complex (it's a 188 paged book kinda hard to craft characters) but I still loved Elissa, she was witty, funny, kind, and relatable and I loved her development towards the end. Sarah (Elissa's mom) was alright, nothing special. I hated that her daughter called her a wasted slut and yet her mom still felt bad for being strict so SHE bought ELISSA makeup as an apology! Like, what? Geezus, if I called my mom that there would be no way in hell she would buy me makeup!!!
Thanks for reading my review and stay tuned for my next book review for "Nerve"! What also bothered me very much in this book: (SPOILER)
The book said that Ryan killed Carrie Anne but I KNEW it was not true because in the very beginning of the book it has a little "preview" that said Carrie Anne was chasing someone and that part had not come yet so that literally ruined all the suspense and the whole twist since I was being very suspicious and started questioning from there!
Thanks for reading my review and stay tuned for my next book review for "Nerve"! What also bothered me very much in this book: (SPOILER)
The book said that Ryan killed Carrie Anne but I KNEW it was not true because in the very beginning of the book it has a little "preview" that said Carrie Anne was chasing someone and that part had not come yet so that literally ruined all the suspense and the whole twist since I was being very suspicious and started questioning from there!
Read
September 20, 2012Elissa and her mother Sarah move to the suburbs of Seattle from Chicago. Elissa's father left them a while ago and moving away would help them with a fresh start. Within the first few days Elissa makes a new friend who invited her to a party where a series of traumatic events took place. As she was walking home her creepy neighbor Ryan offers her a ride. People had told her about Ryan, they say that when he was a kid he and sister Carrie Anne were playing on the swings. Carrie Anne fell off and suffered from a serious brain injury. Everyone says she went crazy. The parents sent Ryan to live with his Aunt because it was hard enough to deal with just Carrie Anne. One day she went crazy enough to murder her parents. She disappeared into the forest and her body still hasn't been found. People think she still lives in the forest. Soon after Ryans aunt died of a heart attack and is now back living in the house at the end of the street. Elissa soon falls for Ryan and while at his house she heard a scream from the basement. Ryan explains to her that he's been keeping Carrie Anne in his basement all this time to protect people that Carrie Anne could hurt. Elissa believed him and promised not to tell or at least until she sees nail polish remover, blue contacts and a drivers license on Ryans kitchen counter. The girl on the license looked exactly like Carrie Anne except she didn't have blue eyes. Elissa starts to question if it really is Carrie Anne in the basement or if Carrie Anne was even the one who murdered her parents.
January 14, 2015
This was a pretty decent read. Honestly, it's been a while since I've read a book in one sitting. I got this book out of the bargain bin at my work. Cheap enough and it looked interesting.
I started to watch the movie but fell asleep very early into it. So I honestly have no idea how close the book and movie are in comparison. I may watch it now though.
Overall this is a story about a mother and daughter who are more like roommates who decide to move after the mother got divorced. The daughter, Elissa, feels estranged from her mom and they aren't close. She isn't really fitting in with the people at school but she befriends a guy named Ryan. Ryan's parents were killed by his sister who suffered a brain injury after falling off a swing. We only find out later she actually died from that accident and Ryan's high as a kite-parents then abused him for years by making him dress up pretending to be his sister since they blamed Ryan for Carrie Ann's death. He is the one who bludgeons his parents. So, Elissa gets involved with this guy having no idea how screwed up his past is. After killing his parents and then disappearing only to return later as the "estranged son" he then begins to kidnap girls and acts as though they are all his little sister. He ties them up in a cellar.
Definitely a creepy read that you may want to save for a nice bright morning and not a gloomy late afternoon while home alone, like I did.
I started to watch the movie but fell asleep very early into it. So I honestly have no idea how close the book and movie are in comparison. I may watch it now though.
Overall this is a story about a mother and daughter who are more like roommates who decide to move after the mother got divorced. The daughter, Elissa, feels estranged from her mom and they aren't close. She isn't really fitting in with the people at school but she befriends a guy named Ryan. Ryan's parents were killed by his sister who suffered a brain injury after falling off a swing. We only find out later she actually died from that accident and Ryan's high as a kite-parents then abused him for years by making him dress up pretending to be his sister since they blamed Ryan for Carrie Ann's death. He is the one who bludgeons his parents. So, Elissa gets involved with this guy having no idea how screwed up his past is. After killing his parents and then disappearing only to return later as the "estranged son" he then begins to kidnap girls and acts as though they are all his little sister. He ties them up in a cellar.
Definitely a creepy read that you may want to save for a nice bright morning and not a gloomy late afternoon while home alone, like I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2012
If you're one of those people who must read the book before seeing the movie, this is not the book to do that with. I have yet to see the movie, but I think it would have been better if that was the way I learned the story. The book just seemed way to short. even some of the intense scenes were only a couple pages long before the story moved onto something else. It felt like I was reading the movie in book form. The story is not too original; after seeing so many horror movies it is kind of hard to impress me on creepy/scary. I am still excited to see the movie. The story is great for a horror movie, but it wasn't great as a book.
August 6, 2025
read on the 6th of aug., 2025: three stars!
umm...okay, so i didn't know that i'd actually read it before, so i read it again XD
it’s quite cinematic, bringing back memories of those vivid scenes. this used to be one of my favourite psychological thrillers as a teenager.
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read on the 3rd of oct., 2018: four stars!
Definitely recommend watching the movie after reading this book
umm...okay, so i didn't know that i'd actually read it before, so i read it again XD
it’s quite cinematic, bringing back memories of those vivid scenes. this used to be one of my favourite psychological thrillers as a teenager.
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read on the 3rd of oct., 2018: four stars!
Definitely recommend watching the movie after reading this book
August 13, 2016
Definitely not a good one.
Yup! It was my first experience reading a specifically horror story, but 1) It didn't scare me, 2) It didn't even excite me, & 3) I was bored.
I felt sorry for Ryan, & good thing he did what he did to Weaver.
But the rest?! Downright ... Wrong!
Not my cup of tea.
Yup! It was my first experience reading a specifically horror story, but 1) It didn't scare me, 2) It didn't even excite me, & 3) I was bored.
I felt sorry for Ryan, & good thing he did what he did to Weaver.
But the rest?! Downright ... Wrong!
Not my cup of tea.
May 6, 2023
So this is a novelization of a film so I will keep this very, very short. There were some details thrown in that felt unnecessary however I do understand that it is actually necessary to put these in to flesh out the book more. It's just most of the time I didn't like the changes that were implemented and occasionally a scene would get cut. But these are little discrepancies so there's no need to linger. I would probably just tell those interested to stick to the film, but if you are a true fan or just mildly curious (like I was) and wanted to see if there was a novelization then by all means do it. So that's it I'd like to give a preview of what is coming next.....I'd like to say that I might be doing a 4th reread of my favorite book of all time.....but due to my own personal rules of not reading it in cold or gloomy weather (thanks Chicago) I have to put off Gatsby yet again. I am getting increasingly impatient, but rules are rules and if we bend them who are we really? I do want to break my streak of lukewarm reads though so I will give my next read careful thought. Thank you for reading.
January 29, 2023
this story had me feeling emotions i didnt even know i had before!
the first moment i opend the first page i was so hooked to the characters and the setting that the story took place in
not going to lie it did take me a while to actually get into the book, but it was totally worth it
the plot twist at the end was to much to handle (in a good way)
and when all the action scenes were described i couldn’t put down the book! 💗✨ each scene was described so well it felt like i was watching a movie!
im usually not really into thriller but this book is a whole different thing
i would say to look up some triger warnings just incase💗
the first moment i opend the first page i was so hooked to the characters and the setting that the story took place in
not going to lie it did take me a while to actually get into the book, but it was totally worth it
the plot twist at the end was to much to handle (in a good way)
and when all the action scenes were described i couldn’t put down the book! 💗✨ each scene was described so well it felt like i was watching a movie!
im usually not really into thriller but this book is a whole different thing
i would say to look up some triger warnings just incase💗
March 23, 2023
A quick and okay read, despite a bit if a plot hole near the end, in chapter seventeen. Probably would have given three stars if not for that.
September 28, 2012
A few months ago, I really enjoyed reading Lily Blake's Snow White & The Huntsman so I was looking forward to getting stuck into this book.
Elissa Cassidy and her mother Sarah have moved to a new place away from the pressures of the city. Their new house is pretty big for the two of them and the only reason they can afford it is because the house across the way has a horrible history attached to it. The teenage girl who lived there was brain damaged and killed her parents. No one knows exactly what happened to Carrie Anne that night, but her disappearance has become a local urban legend.
Now, Carrie Anne's brother Ryan lives in the house all by himself and is ostracized from the community because of his family's dark legacy.
Elissa doesn't like the way the stuck up neighbours dismiss the poor guy because of something he had no control over. Especially when she finally meets him the night the 'cool kids' turn out to be anything but. In spite of her mother's objections she slowly develops a friendship with Ryan, who seems rather shy and sweet. Even if he does act a little strange sometimes and confuses the hell out of Elissa with his mood swings.
As Elissa and Ryan get closer, she starts to uncover the awful and very dark secret at the heart of the Jacobsen house. Something that will change her life forever...
I was hooked instantly, so engrossed that I didn't want to put it down. It's very well written, the characters are interesting, and it's got quite a few messed up surprises. But what I enjoyed the most was the heart of the story--the troubled relationship between mother and daughter.
Elissa's a strong and stubborn teenager determined not to be prejudice and very much determined to be rebellious, which gets her into a whole lot of trouble. She's also still suffering from the effects of her father walking out on them and never looking back. Sarah's a mother struggling with finding herself while also raising a daughter after making a bunch of mistakes along the way. They both want the same thing but neither seems to know how to get there, and I enjoyed their separate journeys coming together in their darkest hour.
House at the End of the Street is a super creepy story with a killer twist. It's quite the page-turner and keeps the reader guessing. It's a great thriller, sprinkled with a good dose of horror-filled tension.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see the movie!
Elissa Cassidy and her mother Sarah have moved to a new place away from the pressures of the city. Their new house is pretty big for the two of them and the only reason they can afford it is because the house across the way has a horrible history attached to it. The teenage girl who lived there was brain damaged and killed her parents. No one knows exactly what happened to Carrie Anne that night, but her disappearance has become a local urban legend.
Now, Carrie Anne's brother Ryan lives in the house all by himself and is ostracized from the community because of his family's dark legacy.
Elissa doesn't like the way the stuck up neighbours dismiss the poor guy because of something he had no control over. Especially when she finally meets him the night the 'cool kids' turn out to be anything but. In spite of her mother's objections she slowly develops a friendship with Ryan, who seems rather shy and sweet. Even if he does act a little strange sometimes and confuses the hell out of Elissa with his mood swings.
As Elissa and Ryan get closer, she starts to uncover the awful and very dark secret at the heart of the Jacobsen house. Something that will change her life forever...
I was hooked instantly, so engrossed that I didn't want to put it down. It's very well written, the characters are interesting, and it's got quite a few messed up surprises. But what I enjoyed the most was the heart of the story--the troubled relationship between mother and daughter.
Elissa's a strong and stubborn teenager determined not to be prejudice and very much determined to be rebellious, which gets her into a whole lot of trouble. She's also still suffering from the effects of her father walking out on them and never looking back. Sarah's a mother struggling with finding herself while also raising a daughter after making a bunch of mistakes along the way. They both want the same thing but neither seems to know how to get there, and I enjoyed their separate journeys coming together in their darkest hour.
House at the End of the Street is a super creepy story with a killer twist. It's quite the page-turner and keeps the reader guessing. It's a great thriller, sprinkled with a good dose of horror-filled tension.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see the movie!
October 5, 2012
This was really really really good. I saw the movie though, and the movie was a ton scarier than the book. The end of the book was a little spooky, but it wasn't as gruesome as the movie, which is why i like the book a lot more. I love how it was suspenseful though. This book was great.
BEFORE YOU READ THE REST OF THIS REVIEW, REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE PLOT AND IT MIGHT HAVE SOME SPOILER ALERTS!
In the story, this girl named Alissa moves to this house. coincidentally the house next door had this haunted story to it. There was this girl named Carrie Anne and the story said that she killed both her parents and then was never seen again. Carrie Anne had a brother, Ryan, and it was said that he was living with his grandmother at the time. Eventually, when he was old enough, Ryan moved back into that house because it was the last thing that he had of his parents. Alissa and Ryan get to know each other a little better, and Alissa sees that Ryan is not as bad as all of the neighbors say he is. But once Alissa get really close with Ryan, she realizes that there is more to him than meets the eye. She finds out that Carrie Anne had actually died when she was little. She and Ryan were playing on the swings and they were trying to hold hands when she slipped and fell. She banged her head and died. Ryan's parents tortured him for that. They made him become Carrie Anne. They made him wear a wig, and girls clothes, and bright blue contacts because Carrie Anne had bright blue eyes. They only called him by the name Carrie Anne. It was actually Ryan that killed his parents. Because of what his parents have done to him, and his guilt of killing his sister, it drives him insane. He feels that he needs to have a Carrie Anne with him, so he kidnaps these girls and makes them where blue contacts and has them pretend to be Carrie Anne, he locks them away until they go crazy and then he pretends that they are Carrie Anne. Ryan tries to kidnap Alissa, but in the end she gets away. (There is a lot of blood and gore to this story, but it is really hard to describe it in the review.)
BEFORE YOU READ THE REST OF THIS REVIEW, REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE PLOT AND IT MIGHT HAVE SOME SPOILER ALERTS!
In the story, this girl named Alissa moves to this house. coincidentally the house next door had this haunted story to it. There was this girl named Carrie Anne and the story said that she killed both her parents and then was never seen again. Carrie Anne had a brother, Ryan, and it was said that he was living with his grandmother at the time. Eventually, when he was old enough, Ryan moved back into that house because it was the last thing that he had of his parents. Alissa and Ryan get to know each other a little better, and Alissa sees that Ryan is not as bad as all of the neighbors say he is. But once Alissa get really close with Ryan, she realizes that there is more to him than meets the eye. She finds out that Carrie Anne had actually died when she was little. She and Ryan were playing on the swings and they were trying to hold hands when she slipped and fell. She banged her head and died. Ryan's parents tortured him for that. They made him become Carrie Anne. They made him wear a wig, and girls clothes, and bright blue contacts because Carrie Anne had bright blue eyes. They only called him by the name Carrie Anne. It was actually Ryan that killed his parents. Because of what his parents have done to him, and his guilt of killing his sister, it drives him insane. He feels that he needs to have a Carrie Anne with him, so he kidnaps these girls and makes them where blue contacts and has them pretend to be Carrie Anne, he locks them away until they go crazy and then he pretends that they are Carrie Anne. Ryan tries to kidnap Alissa, but in the end she gets away. (There is a lot of blood and gore to this story, but it is really hard to describe it in the review.)
October 22, 2016
I like to collect movie novelizations, I know they are kinda lame but I really enjoy them and as I'm a huge movie buff and book lover it's like 2 of my favourite passions combining... The House at the End of the Street is a very average novelization of a very average movie, I read this mainly because I just wanted something super easy and light to read and that's exactly what it was, it plays out like a movie, pretty much scene for scene exactly the same as the film on which it's based which makes it even easier to read because I remember the movie like I watched it yesterday.
A few reviews I've read state that there were grammar errors in the book however I didn't pick any up at all, I tend to pick up on those things and cringe but not with this one, it's from Little Brown the genre publisher which I think is owned by Harper so it obviously had a decent editor - the only problem I really had with the book was that it was so short, the story felt so rushed towards the end, it's quite slow paced at first and then bang at the end it's all tidied up in 2 chapters, the characterization was quite brief too so even though you've spent 200 pages with this character you still don't really know what she's about besides she doesn't get along with her mum and that she loves to sing. The writing however was easily read and flowed smoothly.
It's far from being the greatest book ever but it's also far from being the worst, when it comes to novelizations it's just average however I still had fun reading it - now onto watching the film...
A few reviews I've read state that there were grammar errors in the book however I didn't pick any up at all, I tend to pick up on those things and cringe but not with this one, it's from Little Brown the genre publisher which I think is owned by Harper so it obviously had a decent editor - the only problem I really had with the book was that it was so short, the story felt so rushed towards the end, it's quite slow paced at first and then bang at the end it's all tidied up in 2 chapters, the characterization was quite brief too so even though you've spent 200 pages with this character you still don't really know what she's about besides she doesn't get along with her mum and that she loves to sing. The writing however was easily read and flowed smoothly.
It's far from being the greatest book ever but it's also far from being the worst, when it comes to novelizations it's just average however I still had fun reading it - now onto watching the film...
February 4, 2013
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I searched everywhere for it for a month! My local bookstore had sold out and my library system didn't have the book, so I had to resort to SearchOhio, which found the book from a different county and allowed me to check it out.
Anyway, when I heard about the plot for the book, I was hooked! When I started reading it, however, I was disappointed by the lack of description. While House at the End of the Street was a good, quick read...it definitely lacked the horror I was looking forward to. There isn't a lot of development in the characters, and everything moves very quickly.
While I enjoyed how quickly the book moved, I wish there was more. The lack of description and depth made it a bit difficult to connect to the book. What kept me going, was the suspense and mystery that Blake laced into the book. Just when I thought I had figured the mystery out, she surprised me. I found this to be an impressive aspect of the book.
Overall, House at the End of the Street was a decent read. It kept me on my toes, but didn't keep me awake at night. I read the entire book during school, so it was a very quick read. The twists were wonderful, but the characters lacked something that really needed to be there.
Anyway, when I heard about the plot for the book, I was hooked! When I started reading it, however, I was disappointed by the lack of description. While House at the End of the Street was a good, quick read...it definitely lacked the horror I was looking forward to. There isn't a lot of development in the characters, and everything moves very quickly.
While I enjoyed how quickly the book moved, I wish there was more. The lack of description and depth made it a bit difficult to connect to the book. What kept me going, was the suspense and mystery that Blake laced into the book. Just when I thought I had figured the mystery out, she surprised me. I found this to be an impressive aspect of the book.
Overall, House at the End of the Street was a decent read. It kept me on my toes, but didn't keep me awake at night. I read the entire book during school, so it was a very quick read. The twists were wonderful, but the characters lacked something that really needed to be there.
November 5, 2012
I gave this book five stars for multiple reasons. This book is well known for the movie. Elissa is the new girl moving next to a house where a dark secret is hidden and a guy named Ryan is in the middle of the dark horror secret. Elissa gets all tied up in the secret and her, ad her mom(Sarah) lives are in danger. This book I think was better than the movie because it describes the struggle and the fighting in very unique and clever ways. I found it hard to put the book down it was so inte4resting, yet I saw the movie before the book I just couldn't wait till i got to the end of the page so I could turn it! This book was a great one to read and I would suggest it to anyone who likes thrillers, mysteries, and sitting on he edge of your chair every page.
September 15, 2025
NON DÀ IL TEMPO
Sinceramente mi aspettavo di peggio, la trama non è proprio da buttare e anzi le sorprese che riserva mi hanno lasciata di stucco. Purtroppo, al ritmo estremamente veloce si unisce una narrazione piattissima, che indugia poco su dettagli che invece avrebbero richiesto una maggiore attenzione, anche solo per dare il tempo al lettore di assorbire la portata degli eventi descritti e quindi per consentirgli di provare una qualche emozione.
Sinceramente mi aspettavo di peggio, la trama non è proprio da buttare e anzi le sorprese che riserva mi hanno lasciata di stucco. Purtroppo, al ritmo estremamente veloce si unisce una narrazione piattissima, che indugia poco su dettagli che invece avrebbero richiesto una maggiore attenzione, anche solo per dare il tempo al lettore di assorbire la portata degli eventi descritti e quindi per consentirgli di provare una qualche emozione.
August 7, 2017
"People don't notice the secrets, but they're there. All around us. Hiding. Waiting to be found."
I know, it's silly. I should haven't liked this as much as I did but I loved it! I barely remember the movie but as I read each page, it was easy to pull the details back out. I actually enjoyed already having faces for the characters.
I enjoyed it.
I know, it's silly. I should haven't liked this as much as I did but I loved it! I barely remember the movie but as I read each page, it was easy to pull the details back out. I actually enjoyed already having faces for the characters.
I enjoyed it.
September 17, 2012
This was fantastic for a fast paced, quick read, but parts of the story seemed underdeveloped. I can't complain too much since I read the book in one sitting, but there was more about the characters' back stories I wanted to know.
November 5, 2014
ليس كل سطح هاديء يعبر عن باطنه.. وليس كل بحر هادر.. يختصر حقيقته..
البشر عوالم سرية..
عصية على الدراية والفهم..
تصنعها الظروف والاقدار والاستعداد الشخصي..
وفي خضم ذلك تتعدد الملامح وتستعصى على الحصر..
هذا ما اكرره دائماً..
وهذا ما قلته لنفسي مجددا بعد مشاهدة الفيلم..
البشر عوالم سرية..
عصية على الدراية والفهم..
تصنعها الظروف والاقدار والاستعداد الشخصي..
وفي خضم ذلك تتعدد الملامح وتستعصى على الحصر..
هذا ما اكرره دائماً..
وهذا ما قلته لنفسي مجددا بعد مشاهدة الفيلم..
April 14, 2015
A short, simple thriller and only took a couple of hours to read but kept me interested til the end. Enjoyed the suspense, simple storyline but an easy read, didn't require much thinking which is ok if that's what you're in the mood for!
November 2, 2016
[4,5 estrelas]
Um livro curto, de tirar o fôlego, bem escrito e com um um plot twist que eu não vi chegando. Não sou de recomendar livros desse gênero, porque leio pouco e me assusto com facilidade. Mas, se esse também é o seu caso, fica a dica de leitura: vale muito a pena!
Um livro curto, de tirar o fôlego, bem escrito e com um um plot twist que eu não vi chegando. Não sou de recomendar livros desse gênero, porque leio pouco e me assusto com facilidade. Mas, se esse também é o seu caso, fica a dica de leitura: vale muito a pena!
January 9, 2017
1.5 stars
This was such a weird book. I understand it was trying to be scary and of course I didn't see tha ending until it started unfolding but the writing was empty. It wasn't witten very well and it lacked descriptive style. Oh well.
This was such a weird book. I understand it was trying to be scary and of course I didn't see tha ending until it started unfolding but the writing was empty. It wasn't witten very well and it lacked descriptive style. Oh well.
September 23, 2012
I only read this book because I wanted to see the movie. I think it was written for 13 year olds.....
July 19, 2013
It wasn't really scary, the author's writing kind of made me want to rip my eyes out.
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