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Lady of the House
After inheriting her late grandmother’s property in the deep forests of Georgia, twenty-two-year-old Clara Graham is forced to return to the beautiful, magical house where she lived briefly during childhood. But as she finds herself submerged in the dark secrets her grandmother left behind, she must face her own terrifying childhood memories that have come crawling back into the light, demanding a reckoning.
234 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2025
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 22, 2025
A beautiful novel. Intriguing from beginning to end. Truly a delight to read, this novel is the perfect mix of complex and accessible. Sanyal approaches complicated situations and themes with a skilled hand that truly reflects her talent for writing. I look forward to any future works by this author!
May 9, 2025
THIS IS THE A BOOK I AM ABSOLUTELY THE PROUDEST ABOUT, BECAUSE KATIE IS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, AND I AM SO PROUD OF HER! This book was a step into an amazing world of growth, identity, and mystery. It is raw and emotional, and you truly step into femininity and questioning, and the idea of things being passed onto you generationally. Katie, you are amazing and this book is beautiful. It will forever have a place on my shelf(:
June 8, 2025
Absolutely loved this book!! I was so captivated by the story and absolutely fell in love with the world it was in
April 24, 2025
I need more right now
June 21, 2025
Review: The Lady of the House by Katie Sanyal
As a reader who loves atmospheric gothic fiction and stories about mysterious old houses, I found The Lady of the House completely engrossing from the very first page. Sanyal’s lush prose and keen eye for detail immediately transported me to Clara’s inherited Georgia home - a place that feels alive with secrets and memories. The way the author blends magical realism with psychological tension creates an intoxicating reading experience that lingers long after the final page.
What struck me most powerfully was Sanyal’s treatment of memory and place. The house becomes more than just a setting; it’s a living, breathing entity that seems to remember Clara even when she struggles to remember it. This dynamic created such a visceral reading experience - I could practically smell the old wood and hear the creaking floorboards. The gradual unfolding of family secrets had me turning pages late into the night, torn between wanting to know more and fearing what might be revealed.
While I adored the novel’s moody atmosphere and emotional depth, I did find myself wishing for slightly more development of the supporting characters. Clara’s journey is compelling, but some of the secondary figures felt like they existed primarily to move her story forward rather than as fully realized people. The magical elements are beautifully rendered, though at times I wanted clearer rules about how the supernatural aspects functioned within the story’s world.
What makes this novel truly special is how it captures that universal feeling of returning to a childhood place and finding it both familiar and strange. Sanyal perfectly balances the comforting nostalgia of home with the unsettling realization that we can never truly return to the past. The house’s magic feels like an extension of this emotional truth - both wondrous and unsettling in equal measure.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the free review copy. The Lady of the House is exactly the kind of book I love - a beautifully written, emotionally complex story that blends the supernatural with deeply human experiences of memory, family, and belonging. It’s the perfect read for anyone who enjoys gothic atmosphere with heart.
For fans of: The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, or The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. A haunting, beautifully crafted novel that will appeal to readers who appreciate literary fiction with a touch of magic.
As a reader who loves atmospheric gothic fiction and stories about mysterious old houses, I found The Lady of the House completely engrossing from the very first page. Sanyal’s lush prose and keen eye for detail immediately transported me to Clara’s inherited Georgia home - a place that feels alive with secrets and memories. The way the author blends magical realism with psychological tension creates an intoxicating reading experience that lingers long after the final page.
What struck me most powerfully was Sanyal’s treatment of memory and place. The house becomes more than just a setting; it’s a living, breathing entity that seems to remember Clara even when she struggles to remember it. This dynamic created such a visceral reading experience - I could practically smell the old wood and hear the creaking floorboards. The gradual unfolding of family secrets had me turning pages late into the night, torn between wanting to know more and fearing what might be revealed.
While I adored the novel’s moody atmosphere and emotional depth, I did find myself wishing for slightly more development of the supporting characters. Clara’s journey is compelling, but some of the secondary figures felt like they existed primarily to move her story forward rather than as fully realized people. The magical elements are beautifully rendered, though at times I wanted clearer rules about how the supernatural aspects functioned within the story’s world.
What makes this novel truly special is how it captures that universal feeling of returning to a childhood place and finding it both familiar and strange. Sanyal perfectly balances the comforting nostalgia of home with the unsettling realization that we can never truly return to the past. The house’s magic feels like an extension of this emotional truth - both wondrous and unsettling in equal measure.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the free review copy. The Lady of the House is exactly the kind of book I love - a beautifully written, emotionally complex story that blends the supernatural with deeply human experiences of memory, family, and belonging. It’s the perfect read for anyone who enjoys gothic atmosphere with heart.
For fans of: The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, or The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. A haunting, beautifully crafted novel that will appeal to readers who appreciate literary fiction with a touch of magic.
August 8, 2025
Perfect for fans of southern Gothic.
Claire goes back to her grandmother’s grand house after her death.
Parts of the book are flashbacks to Claire’s past and brings readers up,to speed with her story.
Grandmother had secrets of her own that readers will be privy to.
Thanks to Madville Publishing and Edelweiss for the advance read.
Claire goes back to her grandmother’s grand house after her death.
Parts of the book are flashbacks to Claire’s past and brings readers up,to speed with her story.
Grandmother had secrets of her own that readers will be privy to.
Thanks to Madville Publishing and Edelweiss for the advance read.
June 17, 2025
so nostalgic and beautifully written i could cry.
August 5, 2025
I love a good book with gothic vibes, mystery, and a touch of magic! I really enjoyed Lady of the House and look forward to more books from Katie.
September 9, 2025
Loved it!! This book had so much deeper meaning to unpack and I loved following her journey to independence.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews