The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel

by E.V. Knight

There’s something off about the house…as if it’s hiding a dark secret. That’s why artist, Emily Lawrence thinks it’s the perfect subject for a cover commissioned by a famous horror author. But that’s her little secret. Her husband, Miles, can only assume the house she is constantly sketching is her dream home. So, when Emily is sidelined by an unexpected, high-risk pregnancy, he buys it thinking it’ll be perfect for their growing family.

Immediately, Emily begins to hear voices and senses a child’s presence. Is the house haunted or is it stress getting to Emily? Her husband certainly thinks it’s all in her head. A traumatic delivery leaves Emily convinced something is terribly wrong. Miles must navigate his wife’s delicate state, and care for their newborn son, while returning to work. It’s a tenuous situation—then the baby disappears.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Adult, Mystery, Audiobook, Supernatural, Ghosts

210 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horror is one of my most favorite genres but it's also the genre I struggle with the most. The quality of most horror novels is sorely lacking. It's like anyone thinks they can sit down to do it. You can't.

This book, sadly, falls into that category. 😞

Pros: Great cover and title. Cons: Everything else.

Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for my complimentary copy.

[kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emily Lawrence caught her big break when she was contacted by THE Cooper Yancy to design the cover for his new horror novel. The thing is, he hasn’t actually written the novel yet so he is giving Emily free reign in hopes that she will find the perfect inspiration he needs for his novel. When Emily comes across an old Victorian house, she knows it’s the perfect muse. Emily hasn’t told her husband, Miles, though. She wants to make sure Yancy is good on his word before sharing any good news.

Emily begins sketching and painting the house, filing her studio with pictures of it. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant and is marked high-risk, Miles thinks the house will be just what they need for their growing family and does what any sensible—we call this sarcasm—loving husband would do and buys the house without consulting her first…

Once they move in, Emily begins hearing voices and items start to move around in the house. Is it all in Em’s head or is something more sinister at play?

Chapters shift back and forth between Emily’s and Miles’s experience which helps readers get a closer look in to each character. The atmosphere is no doubt suffocating, with stuffy air and windows that are painted shut. However, I found the “scary” scenes—the scenes where there were strange happenings—to be a bit lackluster and actually not very scary at all. In addition, I grew increasingly frustrated with Emily and Miles and the fact that they wouldn’t just TALK TO EACH OTHER honestly. At times, the writing felt clunky and juvenile.

All in all, this story felt like it needed a little more workshopping in order for it to come together as a compelling, cohesive piece.

Thank you RDS Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 09/12/2024!

[Dona's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sort of like this, but it has issues!

Full review:

"...She’d owned it for, oh, I don’t know, maybe fifty years? But she hadn’t lived in it for a while. Just paid someone to come care for the yard and keep a fresh coat of paint on it.” “That’s sad,” Emily said. “This beautiful place with no one inside to care about it?” p19

This book doesn't score very high in the ratings systems, but I honestly think it deserves a higher score. It's not very scary in the haunted house sense, but there is a great deal of friction resulting from the main characters' relationship and interpretations of their shared experiences. The writing is empathetic of the characters and readers, and the main conflict is compelling because of it. The shape of the plot / primary conflict gets fuzzy at times, but I was invested and excited to read to the end.

This book does a lot of the small things right, too, like natural-sounding dialogue, distinction between POVs, and solid pacing.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of house horror and domestic thrillers, as this is the perfect blend of these genre, and family drama stories, pregnancy horror, and emotional endings.

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. That little bit about the cattleprod and the earthworms? Completely genius horror.

2. I love how exact this book gets about gynecological science.

3. I loved the resolution to the main conflict. It could disappoint some readers though.

4. A very interesting look at abuse in marriages. He's sweet and he never knows what he does that makes her so mad. But from her side, he's controlling and uses his affection toward those ends, and he does know how his behavior is wrong because she tells him. It makes for dynamics way more terrifying than the house they moved into!

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This story isn't complex enough to justify the use of multiple POVs. Miles's sections don't offer much insight into the story. His character details could be transmitted from Emily's perspective. *edit In the end, I think this perspective brings a lot to the story.

2. I feel bad for Emily, but there isn't enough depth for me to connect with and care about her or her whiny husband.

3. Not a fan of mom magic and superhero-mom tropes. But she might be using these tropes in a metafiction sense, where she is judging these tropes through her story. But I don't think so. I think she reserved these energies to expose the motivations of her characters.

4. The plot is everywhere. Don't get me wrong, it's there. But it doesn't seem to be this story's primary concern.

Rating: 🏚🏚🏚.5 /5 haunted houses
Recommend? Yep
Finished: Sep 21 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🏚 haunted house stories
👻 ghost stories
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
🫃 pregnancy horror
🏡 domestic abuse stories

Thank you to the author EV Knight, publishers Raw Dog Screaming Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE HOUSE ON THE COVER OF A HORROR NOVEL. All views are mine.

[KaysKillerReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A husband and wife with a baby on the way move into a "dream home"—but is it really a dream? Was it ever? This novel captures the essence of every parent's deepest fears. As a parent of a 2-year-old, I can honestly say that EV Knight has tapped into the darkest corners of my mind, pulling out the very nightmares that haunt every mother—the ones we keep locked away in the depths of our souls.

From the very first page, this novel had me completely hooked. I found myself stealing every spare moment to read—whether I was making lunch, on work breaks, walking somewhere, or even in the shower—I had to know what would happen next. It’s been a long time since a book has pulled me in like this one did. By the end, I was left picking my jaw up off the floor, staring into the abyss as I reflected on what I had just read.

Having experienced postpartum depression, I deeply appreciated how EV Knight weaved that aspect into a haunted house horror story. It was done tastefully, without being over the top, making it all too easy to step into the protagonist’s shoes. This novel will stick with me for a long time creeping in from the corner of my mind to remind me to check on my son, or give him a hug… or maybe avoid Alexa?!

Trigger warning: This can be a tough read if you have little ones or struggle with horror involving children. But I made it through—and I might just hold my son a little tighter and longer for the next while.

[Barbara Behring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel. I cared about the main characters, Emily and Miles and the ending devastated me. All in all a good book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a genuinely haunting story that is one of the best books I've read this year!  I won't spoil the ending but it's very tragic and haunting. If you enjoy books where the scares are psychological , then I think you will really enjoy this. Special Thank You to E.V. Knight, RDS Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The house needed melancholy. And she's feeding it.
Stuck in a vicious cycle of depression, radiating out of her, bouncing off the walls and right back in. Would she ever feel better?"

Southern gothic inspired. A dual timeline piece weaving the past and present together. A story about two mothers who went mad, haunted by the evil encroaching upon them from the swamp. It is later discovered that the swamp has poisoned the land the home was built on and it ultimately affected the families that tries to live there.


Part haunted house story and a psychological look at motherhood. Two povs told from wife and husband. Ending was tragic and devastating. Reminds me a bit of 'The woman in black'.

I got annoyed by the lack of communication, constant bickering, secrecy, immaturity and gaslighting. Tension, stress and paranoia are palpable. Only a few spooky elements and the constant husband-blaming and cursing got repetitive. I believe the husband really meant well from the start and just wanted to make his wife happy but things just kept on getting shitty for them.
The premise of the book is intriguing but it just didn't deliver much.

2.48✨

Arc from netgalley 🏚️

[Rosemarie aka. HauntedAlchemist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Genres/Tags: Gothic Horror, Hauntings and Paranormal, Psychological Horror

This book follows Emily, who is on a quest to find the perfect muse for a painting commissioned by one of her favorite horror authors. She finds her ideal inspiration in an old Victorian home currently for sale. However, Emily soon faces a medical scare, which turns out to be an unexpected high-risk pregnancy. Misinterpreting her visits to the property and her paintings of the home as more than just artistic inspiration, her husband, Miles, buys the house without her knowledge. As Emily navigates her high-risk pregnancy, she begins to uncover the dark history of the home and observes unsettling changes in her husband's personality.

While the plot may seem somewhat predictable at times, it remains thoroughly enjoyable. Books with multiple points of view can be challenging, but this one handles it well by clearly labeling each chapter with the character's perspective. The writing's pace and tone are easy to follow, allowing me to finish the book in one evening. Occasionally, the writing style felt a bit unedited, but I appreciated the atmospheric descriptions of the house and the eerie details, like the creepy wallpaper and toys left behind.

The characters are engaging and EV Knight, the author, writes from the POV of Emily particularly well. Miles' controlling personality and subtle misogyny stood in sharp contrast to Emily's struggle with pregnancy, postpartum depression and paranoia. The extravagant character of Cooper Yancy offers comic relief, as does Monica, Emily’s sister-in-law and best friend. I enjoyed the backstory of the house and the way the book concluded, although I wished the final chapters were more drawn out to better maintain the story's momentum.

Overall, the plot and characters make for an enjoyable read. However, the last quarter of the book feels a bit rushed, despite an interesting climax and resolution. The author excels at building anxiety and resentment in the main character, but the actual paranormal aspect left me wishing for a tiny bit more "overt" horror. Nonetheless, it is a solid read that I found to be a lot of fun, and I am certain any fan of haunted houses will enjoy this book too!

Note: I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book. This does not have any impact on my review or rating of the book.

Note: After reflecting on the book, I increased my original review from only 3 stars to 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4 stars on GoodReads).

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, confession up front: I did NOT like the characters. But EV Knight knows how to keep her readers interested even if they find the main characters unlikeable, and it turned out I finished the book, loved it, and have no complaints! Actually, the plot went into directions I never suspected nor would have predicted from the synopsis or the reviews. Plot-wise, it's a Southern Gothic story of the family-going-insane type. Bleak, dark, mostly humorless, with a very heavy sense of claustrophobia and miscommunication among the characters. The house is obviously haunted, perhaps too obviously and this makes for some unrealistic and wooden dialogue; that said, this never dissuaded me from reading on. In fact, perhaps the true protagonist is that sinister house: keep your eyes fixed on it and you will surely enjoy the tale, even the twist in the ending. Well done!

[Carlita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how the story started with the main character being offered a cool opportunity to create a cover for a well known horror author. That premise itself was a unique start.

The cover of this book is what drew me in at first. It’s absolutely gorgeous and such a mood for spooky season.

The story line was creepy. I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen. I wouldn’t call this story “twisty” but there were suspenseful moments. It’s definitely bingeable. I wanted to keep going to find out what was actually going on in the house and to see how the author was going to wrap it all up. The first half was the build up to everything and the last half was a fast unraveling of events. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is chaotic.

I spent way too much time trying to figure out the intentions of the author. Is this tongue-in-cheek snark? Or this this a proper horror novel? Should I be amused? Or should I be creeped out?

I do not know.

The characters definitely seem to be tongue-in-cheek. There is no way the reader is supposed to take Miles seriously. The issue is that the plot itself is pretty much snark free. There’s a true dichotomy between the way the characters are portrayed and the way the plot plays out.

I had to decide how to read this.

Finally, I decided to just read it as a proper horror novel and it’s a pretty good one. The plot is eerie and, when I didn’t want to throw Miles in the trash or beg Emily to get a spine, I worried for their little family.

I ended up liking it. Still confused, honestly. But liking it.

• ARC via Publisher

[Horror Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a creepy atmospheric novel about a haunted house and motherhood set in Savannah Georgia.

A woman has been contacted by a very successful popular horror author to give him inspiration for a new novel. There's a huge payday in store if she can capture and paint something which leads to his next novel.

She finds a perfect house for sale with a dubious past. But before she can enter the home with a realtor, she experiences blinding pain and starts bleeding. At the hospital her and her husband find out she's pregnant and it's a complicated and possibly dangerous pregnancy.

She has not told her husband about her deal with the author and he assumes she wants to purchase this home and proceeds to do so behind her back.

She doesn't want the home but the deal is done and they move in. It doesn't take long for the house to reveal itself in truly troubling and terrifying ways!

This novel goes deeper into the aspects of motherhood and, of course, no matter what happens, her husband has a good physical reason for it. Their relationship turns contentious as whatever lives in the walls makes her doubt her sanity.

With some twists and turns along the way, we'll witness the terror she endures and the panic when she realises whatever it is wants her baby for it's own.

This is a really good gothic haunted house book with some great supernatural vibes and psychological horror. I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[TessaMcbessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

A book cover artist receives a call from a very famous and well know horror author asking her to paint him a picture that will help inspire him to complete the novel of his career. Obviously she accepts, and eventually stumbles across a house that exudes malevolent and sinister vibes. It’s perfect for the painting. She begins painting/sketching this house creating truly unsettling images for the author. There’s just one problem… she hasn’t told her husband about the deal she made with the author. Her husband (who throughout is terrible at reading his wife’s cues) assumes she wants to own this house and surprisingly buys it for her…

That’s where it all goes crazy

Firstly, this books atmosphere is intense. Not only did the author manage to create this menacing house as a muse for the characters in the book, but also manages to bring the menace head on to anyone reading.

This is a supernatural southern gothic that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat for sure. The pace is so steady, and quickly builds up to a fast paced fever dream that will have you routing for this family.

Another great addition to your spooky season tbr!

Thanks to Raw Dog Screaming press for the gifted copy!!
All opinions are my own

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

EV Knight's latest is an entry in the illustrious tradition of Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House. In this permutation, a famous horror author commissions work from an obscure southern gothic artist who happens to be a big fan of his. It's an irresistible opportunity that she embraces, until, at the threshold of a new phase of her career, an unexplainable physical malady leaves her crumpled at the entrance to the house.

The protagonist's marriage is less than harmonious, which seems to be the result of her husband's stereotypical insensitivity. Emotional aspects of the story, such as the artist's enthusiasm for her new project and her dread surrounding her struggling relationship, are heavy-handed and unpolished, resorting to using all caps to convey emphasis to the reader.

While there's nothing wrong with coloring inside the lines in a traditional haunted house story, there's also nothing original about this one. Readers seeking a book with the genetics of Jackson's Hill House should look to Richard Matheson, Elizabeth Hand and Scott Thomas.

Thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jo | HonkIfYouRead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof okay. So the story for this was really chaotic. The dialogue among the characters was kind of cringy with how much unnecessary swearing there was... I swear like a sailor, but it felt like the f bomb was being placed in the dialogue way too often that it didn't feel genuine. I didn't feel like I connected with the characters and their grievances, nor did I root for any of them. I did appreciate the dual POV's because it did help with perspective with Emily and Miles, but it still didn't feel like it was enough for me to really connect. Emily and Miles didn't communicate at all, which is one of my bigger complaints, because the miscommunication came off as childish. I think if some of these areas were corrected a bit more, it would be a better haunted house story, but the focus seemed to be on miscommunication rather than the house for the majority of the ride.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an arc read from NetGalley. Overall, i really liked the premise of this book. It’s difficult to say much because i feel like everything i say would be a spoiler. I’m not sure how i feel about the ending but it was definitely different than most books I’ve read lately and that in itself makes me appreciate it even more. I will be looking for more from this author because i felt this was well written and kept me interested.

[Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not saying this lady faked postpartum depression to get out of doing chores but... oh wait, that's exactly what I'm saying.

[Dani-Lynn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god! First of all, I have been a fan since I read Knight’s novella Three Days At The Pink Tower and when I saw the chance to read an advanced copy of this horror novel, I could not pass it up! The House On The Cover Of A Horror Novel is completely full of suspense, murder, with a touch of true crime, as the crime only took place inside the fictional world. I love how this horrendous house is haunting only Emily for the duration of the story, making her appear like she is suffering insanity after a heartbreaking and emotional pregnancy that could have costed her her life. Then, at the climactic ending, everything is unraveled to her husband Miles and twin sister Monica, who are finally shown that she’s not crazy and indeed, the house is haunted. Bravo to that ending and I’ll be on the lookout for all Knight’s future releases even more!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read it ahead of release…

[Shannon Mabrito · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel is a Southern Gothic novel that follows Emily and Miles Lawrence through a terrible tragedy that beholds them from the house they purchased. With an amazing job offer for Emily, an unexpected and rough pregnancy and eventually, a terrible tragedy involving their young son, Emily and Miles go through trials and tribulations that no couple should ever have to go through.
EV Knight is able to encompass the horror that many find themselves envisioning when they look at old, Victorian homes. Yes, they’re beautiful but they are also incredibly haunting with their own histories that can be both beautiful and haunting. However, I feel like EV Knight created two main characters that you couldn’t root for. The only time I found myself cheering for both Emily and Miles was through the tragedy involving their young son, Rhett. While I can sympathize with Emily and her potential postpartum psychosis, it was still hard to root for her. Miles, on the other hand, was a dislikable character from the very beginning. Narcissistic, cared for himself more than anyone else, including his wife and son, and was patronizing to what Emily was going through.
Initially, I was prepared to give the story only 1 star. However, the ending of the novel redeemed itself enough for me to give 3 stars. While the story itself was a typical haunted house story that you can read in many other novels, the ending was a bit out there that allowed it to have it’s own genre almost.
Thank you to RDS Publishing, author EV Knight and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. The opinions aforementioned are my own.

[Stefanie Tolbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of an artist and writer creating a Gothic Horror story with the house first. But this turned into a totally different book pretty quickly. It was more a pregnancy horror. Absolutely horrible people for the main characters, a dash of homophobia and fat shaming, gaslighting and insulting behavior from Miles (the husband) and absurd choices abound. The writing is so scattered in some places, and overworked and too detailed in others. I don’t think anyone would have expected the graphic pregnancy details in a haunted house story. I think the whole story could do with some reworking and if not, some heavy content warnings.
DNF - 55%

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest review.

[Rye · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to start by saying thank you to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for this ARC. I really enjoyed being one of the first to read and review this novel.

This story was supposed to be about a haunted house set in Southern Gothic Savannah (where I read the book). Meanwhile, it felt like a kooky horror soap opera. Some of the dialogue was so cliché and emotionless and the plot was empty.

Approximately 1/4 of this book was entertaining. I have never read about a more disconnected married couple with no interesting facts or characteristics about them. Emily, the main character, was extraordinarily boring. Her husband, Miles, is extraordinarily stupid.

Throughout the beginning chapters, both Emily and Miles bring up Emily getting fat during pregnancy, which feels fat-phobic in its repetition and probably deserves a trigger warning for people with eating disorder trauma. There were a lot of unnecessarily gory and slimy feeling moments, which steered the story away from the haunted house genre.

This is a slow story with a devastatingly barren ending.

[Betty Beebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this thinking I was going to read a typical haunted house story, and while it was, it focused more on the horrors of a difficult pregnancy, postpartum depression, and unsuppotive spouses.

As for the characters, I couldn't find anything that I liked about any of them. Emily and Miles are by far one of (if not) the worst couples. There was gaslighting, no communication, and lack of respect.

I kept waiting for the story to ramp up, but it just never got there. I felt the atmosphere was lacking and I was never pulled in. I wanted to see more of the hauntings and wish the backstory of what caused the hauntings was more fleshed out. The ending is quite bleak, however, this is what saved the story for me.

I want to give a huge thanks to RDS Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. 

[AgoraphoBook Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 / 5

Ok, so ... 


Maybe it's because I read so much horror ... but, damn ... I was hoping for more from this book. I think it had something, and just kind of dropped the ball. 


I read a lot, and like I said, horror is my genre. So, if you're someone who isn't used to the same ole horror tropes kinda rinsed and repeated, you might enjoy this. 

If I had read it as a horror newbie, I probably would be thrilled. (Minus the dialogue ... Some of that just needs work, IMO.)


But other than that, it felt very generic.  

It just felt like the equivalent of a Blumhouse movie, and I thought I was sitting down for A24.


Wasn't really anything new. But very readable. 


I'd recommend this to my friends who are breaking in to horror. 

But if you read a lot of it like I do, you may want to wait and check this one out of the library or something before deciding to purchase. 

[Kelsey Ciofani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for an eARC of this book!

I had seen this pop up in a suggested ad for me and was immediately interested. I was so excited to get to get the ARC. It did not disappoint!! This book had me hooked from beginning to end. It reminded me of a 80’s-90’s Stephen King movie. I could see everything in my head so vividly as I read. I truly don’t remember if there were trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, but if there isn’t there should be as there’s child abuse and death of an infant.

Such a spooky and haunting book without gore or anything over the top! Truly chilling!

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

This entire story, and all of the devastation it brought, could have been avoided if the main characters in this book had just had a basic conversation. Not even a difficult one, just a simple sharing of information. There was so much that just didn't make sense or need to be included, and the characters were, for lack of a better word, annoying.

This was on my TBR for a while, and now I wish I had just kept it there.

[Jessica Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you looking for a haunted house story? This may not be for you. The house is haunted, but that part of the story is quite thin.

Are you looking for something bleak with no reprieve? This is the vibe you're seeking. Darkness o plenty.

This story is about Emily's sad life. Miles, her husband, is awful, so awful that I almost gave up at the 15% mark. By that point his sexism, mansplaining, gaslighting, and homophobia was too much. He added some fatophobia on top as well. He's despicable in all the ways. Even when he was dealing with tragedy, I didn't want to root for him. Emily is a victim of unfortunate circumstances, held together by trauma and post-partum depression. Her you can root for, but you never really get to know her. I wish there was more character there.

Ultimately, this is a dark story. It's written well, but it wasn't quite my jam. If you want to see dark humanity with a haunted backdrop, it may be for you.

[Maggie Boals · Rating 2 out of 5]

What do you do when your husband buys a potentially haunted house for you and your unborn child because you’ve been painting pictures of it non-stop? If you're Emily Lawrence, you go ahead and move in because you cannot tell him the real reason you've been painting the house. Of course, if you’re Miles Lawrence, you hadn’t even consulted your wife before making the down payment so I support everyone is at fault. Miscommunication runs deep in this household.

Houses are often the subject of horror stories, our author E.V. Knight even mentions that in the novel. Of course, that means if you're going to write another one, you have to make sure you're bringing something fresh to the table. Unfortunately, Knight has not done that.

I won’t spoil the “twist” for anyone who does end up picking up this novel, but I will say that Knight’s head was in the right place. They have chosen a plot that could work with some workshopping. The real fault of the novel lies in the characters and the prose.

Miles is completely oblivious to the feelings of those around him, and also oddly homophobic? (For anyone who HAS read this, I’m still trying to figure out why that scene is necessary.) Emily is your classic postpartum, potentially unreliable, narrator. Monica is nothing but a foil, and Coop is beyond annoying. Rhett/Remi might be the only character I felt any compassion for, but I still didn’t understand why the dual name thing was added.

On top of the two-dimensional characters, Knight’s prose is underdeveloped. Much of the dialogue is incredibly cliché and juvenile. It is not that it is bad, per se, it just does not feel professional.

Overall, the book is gratuitous with elements that have little bearing on the plot, and scant with the things that matter. However, I did read it in only a couple hours, so maybe there is something there, even if it’s not that Knight intended.

Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the ARC. The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel is out 9/12/24.

[felicityreadss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly from the first few chapters, I wasn’t confident that I was going to enjoy this. The concept seemed exciting and I was looking forward to a more author/artist story that was heavy on the ‘haunted house’ idea which unfortunately we didn’t get. Half of the book is talking about a horrific pregnancy and birth story which was definitely not what I expected from reading the summary, and don’t get me wrong I can appreciate a good twist but this seemed way off. The characters were so unlikeable I struggled to continue reading. Miles is a terrible husband and just seemed like such a child it was unbearable at times and Emily just had such a lacklustre personality.

Thank you Netgalley for the E Arc

[MaggieDay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. Honestly, I had high hopes with this book. Emily Lawrence, an artist, is hired by the famous horror writer, Cooper Yancy, to find and paint him inspiration to help with his writer's block. Emily finds the Leeds mansion in Savannah and immediately knows this is the inspiration Cooper is looking for. Let the haunting commence.

For me, the tension never really builds to a level where I am frightened or am reading something new or different from other books in this genre. I also wasn't drawn to Emily or her husband, Miles, and Monica who is Miles's twin sister and Emily's friend. Healthy communication would have solved so many of their problems that I often grew frustrated by them.

[Madi N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ecopy of this novel for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I tore through this book so fast! While the main characters were fairly unlikeable, I found myself unable to turn away from the storyline. Miles' chapters were a little slower for me, mostly because I simply did not like him. He had no redeeming qualities to me, except that he loved his baby. Rating 3.5 stars, rounded up.

TW: traumatic birth, surprise pregnancy, miscarriage scare, death of a child, gaslighting, emergency hysterectomy, postpartum depression.