The House on Monarch Street

by Delon Nicole Starkey

One house. Two families. A web of secrets.

On his thirteenth birthday, Thomas’ mother vanished without a trace, never to be seen again. Forced to leave his family home after the tragedy, the mansion sat empty for years. He struggled to piece his life together, figuring he’d never return.

Bree Summerford and her family have been looking for a fresh start, and the stunning mansion on Monarch Street seems like the perfect place. Grand and beautiful, it commands attention and speaks of a life of luxury. But it is only a facade. Underneath its cozy exterior, the house holds dark secrets. Secrets that go beyond the disappearance of Thomas’ mother all those years ago.

It’s up to Thomas and Bree to unravel the secrets while dealing with their burgeoning attraction to one another. They know the mansion holds the key, but someone is watching from the shadows…

A gripping mystery that will hook you from page one and tangle with your emotions until the incredible final twist.

Small-town mysterySecret lettersFirst loveAbandoned mansionDeadly secrets
Sound like a house you would want to visit? Well, what are you waiting for?

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2024

Reviews

[Kylie Lindenfelser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was something I’ve anticipated since Delon first announced she would be publishing a book! I’m so thrilled to say it exceeded all expectations!

I live for a good mystery thriller with some of my favorite books being Verity and The Perfect Marriage so I was ecstatic to hear it was going to be a mystery novel. While the book starts off a little slow-paced and has a lot of repetitious building in the beginning, it was totally worth it! It did take me a while to get into due to the previous statement, but then I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! The imagery in the book is so vivid, so you really can picture this mansion and all of the rooms within it and even the smells coming from within. It was such a good mystery with some twists that I didn’t see coming and had a great romance of Bree and Thomas too!

This book was beautifully done and I can’t wait to read more future books by Delon!
Congratulations to a phenomenal book!

[Miranda | _pandathebibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a really hard time getting into the beginning, but after 100 pages it started to get really good.
If you love Nancy Drew, The House on Monarch Street will not disappoint.

Thank you to BookSirens.com for this Advanced Readers Copy. I am leaving this review Voluntarily

[Christina Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy clean read with a twist at the end. It's set up well to have a sequel too!

[Meighan Marlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow in the beginning but then kicked in and had me wanting to read more!! Unique story line and some things predictable while others were not. Overall, enjoyed the read and would recommend!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! This book was phenomenal! Debut novel? I couldn't tell! It seriously is that good! I am so excited for more! I neeeeed more! 😍 The plot! The twists! The ending!!!

[Jessica Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book has been one of my book highlights of the year so far. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. I am upset that my life got so hectic that it took me so long to get my hands on it. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the mystery of this read. I can not wait to see if there is a second book coming! I really hope this book gets as much recognition it deserves!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House on Monarch Street was a great easy read that kept the pages turning fast. It pulled you in and kept your attention with the twists. I loved the main characters and how easy they were to fall in love with. I was also happy to have an epilogue that answered the questions you still had by the end and it didn't leave you hanging! Definitely recommend!!

[LaCrissa Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm 39% of the way through and unsure if I want to finish - I will because I'm stubborn. I'm at chapter 15 and the epilogue still doesn't relate. The build is slow. No character development for the main character. I don't understand how Bree can be interested in the mystery behind her parents mansion, as she abandons all to go off to college. It should no longer be a concern to her. She becomes weirdly obsessive that it almost consumes her and continually stops paragraphs to ask herself a number of questions, leaving no questions for the reader to ask. Don't even get me started on how she just so happens to stumble into the love interest- that definitely needed more building up🙄
It feels like a self published read. A rough draft if you will.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congrats on your debut, Delon. Well done!!

Let's start with #teamlennon... at one point, Delon asked Facebook if they would be team Bree or team Thomas, and I want to clarify that I was team Lennon from the start. Delon, please make her a spin-off... she's obviously up to something!!

I wish we had seen more of Thomas. I dont feel like I got to know him as much as the others, and there's still some secrets, like where would he disappear to?! Maybe there can be a book from his point of view since this one was Bree's 🤔

Bree took a minute to grasp, and I still struggled to hold back my frustration but loved her all the same. She's really slow to pick up the clues and connect the dots, but I wasn't sure if that was her fault or maybe my own since I read an absurd amount.

The end came (or is it?), and I was left with a bunch of questions. I wanted to know what happened with Bree's dad, and I thought maybe that meant book two. But the epilouge saved the day and wrapped up pretty much everything. I really appreciate that, but I still think it would've made an awesome continuation of a series!!

Fun, fast read. Likable characters. Situations that some can relate to. The description of smells was helpful to get me into the story!! I did discover that I am straight up a physical book reader, but I would also love to continue using my Kindle to get these awesome sneak peeks into new worlds ❤️

Thank you, Delon and booksirens for allowing me to enter Brees world 'first' and take on her wave of angst, heartbreak, shock, love, and happiness. For that, I offer you my willing review and wish you the best or luck 📚
#waitingforbooktwo

[Gina Shuster · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House on Monarch Street is a captivating read, full of mystery, romance and self-discovery. The main character, Bree Summerford easily draws readers into her world as she navigates the ever-changing landscape of what it means to become a young adult. Readers who have dealt with changes and challenges associated with young adulthood will easily identify with this character. She steps into new circumstances, forcing her to let go of things she thought she knew while uncovering some long-kept secrets that thrust her right into the middle of a chilling mystery. This debut novel by author, Delon Nicole Starkey, is well written and seamlessly blends the genres of romance and mystery. It is a page turner that will capture readers’ attention from the very beginning. The author does a great job of pulling her audience in and helping the reader to form connections with the characters. This book is an easy, fast paced read.

My only critique is that the ending seemed a little rushed and left me with a few questions. There were a few lose ends, but hopefully that is an indication that this story isn’t over and there is more to come! One thing is for sure, this book will leave the reader wanting to know more about what secrets lurk in the halls of the house on Monarch Street.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mica Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a definite 5-star read! It fits perfectly in the mystery/romance category, in my opinion. The main character, Bree, a college student, is on a quest to unravel the mystery of the strange behavior exhibited by those around her. The plot is intricately crafted and far from generic.

The book provides a soothing and effortless reading experience, which only adds to its appeal. The author skillfully immerses readers in Bree's world, allowing them to feel her emotions and see the world through her eyes. The character development is robust, offering readers an intimate understanding of each character. The mystery woven into the storyline is unpredictable, keeping readers guessing until the final pages. I found myself completely engrossed in the narrative, finishing the book in just three days. It was difficult to tear myself away from the story due to other responsibilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into the world crafted by this author and would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating and immersive read.

[Alax · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨."

ughh I love a good mystery. This book had me feeling like I was Nancy drew trying to solve this. & The prologue sets your scene for the mystery you have to solve then we meet Bree Summerford and we find out that her dad won the lottery and bought a mansion in applewood, Ohio. When Bree moves into the mansion on Monarch Street she has a feeling it holds some secrets. She finds a few things, meets the neighbors and is intent on finding out what happened to the previous tenants. Bree is only home for the summer until she goes to college and that's where she meets Thomas and the mystery begins to unfold from there. There's secret letters, clues and all the things and this book was so fun to read, trying to unravel this mystery had me on the edge of my seat.

10/10 recommend.

[Taylor Brewster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had good potential but didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I felt that the plot moved too slowly and did not include enough points or move as well as I would’ve liked. My favorite part was that I did not see the twist at the end coming - I just wish it didn’t take quite so long to get to it. While I feel that the environments were well crafted, I did have a hard time picturing most of the characters and feel that there is a real opportunity to amp up development for them. The continuing butterfly theme was cute and cheeky and placed just right. I got through this book quickly and know some people who would enjoy it, and I hope the writer continues to improve and releases more in this style later on!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I struggled to get into this book at first. I am not sure if it was me or the book though. As a mood reader, I can't always be a good judge of that haha Ultimately once the story tugged, at about the 20% point, it pulled me in hard. As someone who grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys this really spoke to me. It was a solid mystery with great characters. I'm also a sucker for an epilogue that wraps the story up with a pretty bow. The romance aspect was icing in the cake! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading, especially if they were Nancy Drew fans.

[Dacia Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book reels you in with mystery from the first page! I really felt like I was the main character and Delon’s descriptive writing had me reminiscing about my first relationships as an adult. The romance was sweet, awkward, and wonderfully realistic (just a hint of spice) and wove the whole story together. The mystery kept me guessing which was riveting. Although, I can’t say I cried, there were a lot of different feelings throughout resulting in the story becoming more and more captivating as it went along. Though this novel can stand alone, I’m hoping there will be a sequel for there are questions that could still be answered.

[Jenn Suttles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I found the first half of this book to be drawn out & slightly repetitive — the main character seems to ask her self the same questions multiple times & I found myself frustrated that she didn’t know the answer.

By the last half of the book I *could not* stop reading. I *had* to know what the outcome was. I devoured the last half of this book in one night!

Although this book is (in my opinion) more YA than I typically prefer, there were several great twists & surprises along the way! There’s mystery, love, and heartbreak all within these pages, definitely worth a read. :)

[Toriiii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so excited to read this novel!! Bree is very much an over thinker and a very curious girl which makes her so relatable. It’s feels almost like you’re reading a journal as you go through her thought process with her as she’s unraveling all these mysteries in her head. I thought the descriptions of everything in the mansion were so on point I felt like I was walking into the rooms with her. Once the story takes off you won’t want to put this book down!!!

And Thomas Turner…. well hellllllo…. 😉😉

I loved it!!!

[Diane Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House on Monarch Street by Delon Nicole Starkey ⭐⭐⭐⭐


I was looking forward to reading Delon debut novel, as I was unsure what genre she wrote or even what this book was about.
I almost DNF but kept reading it. And I'm so glad I did. It was amazing and pulled on my emotions. I was on the edge of my seat and didn't want to stop reading till I finished the book.

This book releases August10 so pre-order your copy today and buckle up.

I can't wait to see what her next book will be.

[fierce.shieldmaiden_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read, a bit slow in the beginning, and was hard to follow, I found myself going back often but I pushed through to a pleasant surprise !

A very pleasant read for sure! After the first couple chapters it really was a page turner, a perfect blend of mystery and romance, I mean right from the first pages I was very invested and needed to know who and why. If I’m asking questions I’m hooked 😅

The descriptive imagery and language was definitely notable, and the romance was sweet! Definitely liked this mystery!

[Crystal Ecklund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.I loved how well this book was written and kept me wanting to read on. Throughout the book I could sense the main characters and how they felt. From the beginning of the book till almost the end it left me thinking what was going to happen. Just when you think a friendship is over that person remains there for you and is someone you know you can count on. I am hoping there is another book because I would love to know how the new relationships go.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic read, featuring a great plot and vivid, detailed descriptions that bring the story to life. Although the pacing is a bit slow at times, the engaging plot more than makes up for it. The atmosphere and suspense are very well crafted, making it a gripping mystery. My favorite character is Thomas, who adds depth and intrigue to the narrative. Overall, it's a highly enjoyable book.

[Kelsey Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really hard time getting into the beginning, but after the first 100 or so pages, I was completely drawn in.

The House on Monarch Street is a good mystery. If you like Nancy Drew I think you would enjoy this book. So happy that I was able to receive an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review completely voluntarily.

Overall this is a really good debut novel! I can’t wait to read more from Delon.

[Roses&Ruinsbookishgirls · Rating 4 out of 5]

*The House on Monarch Street* is an engrossing read that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Its engaging narrative and well-crafted twists ensure a page-turning experience. The characters are well-developed and endearing, making it easy for readers to form strong connections with them. The inclusion of an epilogue provides satisfying closure, addressing lingering questions and adding depth to the story. Overall, this book offers a compelling blend of suspense and character-driven storytelling, perfect for anyone looking for a captivating and accessible read.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue hooked me, a great start for the mystery! It slowed down while you got to know the characters and then ramped back up again as clues were unveiled. So many twists that come together near the end for a great story!

The main mystery is resolved but a mystery still remains. I'm hoping for another book to learn more about the characters and bring closure to the mystery!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bailey C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House on Monarch Street keeps your brain turning and thinking throughout the whole book. I loved the development of characters and that as you figure out and solve pieces there’s always another piece that adds to the story. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope that there’s more to come for B.S and T.T in the future!

[Sarah Eder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up I loved Nancy Drew and this book reminded me so much of that excitement of a good mystery. The opening drew me in and by the middle I couldn't put it down. There is love, heartbreak and twists. Most books you are able to somewhat guess what is coming, but this one had me surprised! I thought it was well done and a solid good read.

[Charla · Rating 3 out of 5]

“One house. Two families. A web of secrets.”

By the start of the synopsis I thought I would be hooked. The storyline of this book was really good. I never once felt truly connected with the characters I just felt like so much of it I kept reading again and again. So much of the story didn’t even build until the very end of the book.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve seen a few reviews saying if you loved Nancy Drew books growing up then you’ll enjoy this book and I think that sums it up perfectly. It gives young adult, Nancy Drew vibes. A few twists and turns toward the end, with an ending you wouldn’t expect. It was an entertaining read with a little suspense and a sweet college romance.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was super intrigued by the description of this novel. It took me a little bit to get into, but once I connected to the characters, I really enjoyed this story! I figured out one of the plot lines fairly early on into the story, but was blindsided by another. All in all, I’d definitely recommend this novel to others!

[Kalynn Wooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a cute little mystery! So many little puzzle pieces you didn’t even notice were pieces until you start putting it together. It starts slow, but after the first few chapters it picks up and will keep you guessing until the end.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.