Gaslight: Who Can You Trust When You Can't Trust Yourself?

by J.E. Rowney

Who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?

When Ella hears of her father's death, the last thing she wants is to return to the childhood home where he subjected her to years of trauma. But motivated by revenge, she and her partner Dan do just that.

At first, the memories of her past overwhelm her, but the move to Bittersweet Acres is more dangerous than Ella could ever have imagined.

Strange notes start to appear, Ella's behavior becomes erratic, and she's sure that Dan is responsible for the bizarre events that threaten her mental and physical health.

He says he's trying to protect her, but nothing is as it seems.

Can Ella uncover the truth before it's too late?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Horror Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

First published January 27, 2023

About the author

Writer.

Visit my website for previews, further information.

http://www.jerowney.com/

"I always dreamed of being a writer, until I realised that I was. Then I started to write."

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A haunted house, or a twisted boyfriend?

This book was short and didn't take me long to finish. I enjoyed the exciting parts that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was expecting some explanation or resolution to what happened, but unfortunately, the story ended abruptly and left me feeling unsatisfied.

[CarolG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ella Jackson's estranged father passes away and as the sole surviving relative she inherits Bittersweet Acres, her childhood home where her father subjected her and her mother, now deceased, to years of psychological trauma. Her partner Dan convinces Ella that they should move into the home on the secluded property and make the necessary repairs while saving money on rent. I think we all know this is not going to turn out well.

I had a hard time rating this book but decided on 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. The book is very short, probably around 200 pages although I couldn't find it set out anywhere. The story isn't bad but I feel like it could've either been expanded upon or a lot of the repetition taken out to make the plot tighter and tenser, because there were definitely some tense moments, and then promoted as a novella or novelette. I didn't see the twist coming so I was pleasantly surprised, but then the ending fell a bit flat in my opinion and I wasn't really happy with how it was left. Judging by all the 4 and 5 star reviews lots of people loved the book but I think anyone who reads a lot of psychological suspense will find it lacking. I'll still be watching for whatever J.E. Rowney writes in the future because hopefully she has another "Other People's Lives" in her!

My thanks to BooksGoSocial via Netgalley for the opporrunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: January 27, 2023

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by J. E. Rowney. I appreciate the way she makes me care about the characters and what they are going through. Ella inherits her family home. After she arrives, strange and mysterious things begin to happen. I was invested immediately into Ella’s life and well being. Is she a victim of her past repeating itself, or is something more sinister at play? Is her partner Dan responsible for all of the bizarre occurrences, or is Ella becoming unhinged haunted by memories of the past? This is a quick entertaining read that you could devour in one sitting. Thank you BookSirens for my ARC.

[Karly · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Rating Style: 2⭐️⭐️ unfortunately it didn’t rock my world and was lacklustre!! 😔

Who can you trust when you feel like you can’t trust yourself?

The last thing Ella wants to do is return to her childhood home, even after hearing of her estranged father’s death. She doesn’t need to be reminded of her childhood trauma and all the things shes been burying since she left Bittersweet Acres.

However, that is exactly what she does, motivated by revenge and determination and coercion from her partner Dan, Ella finds herself on the doorstep of Bittersweet Acres and it is anything but Bittersweet.

Strange things begin to happen to Ella and she becomes afraid for her mind… or her life!!!

I wanted to love this - I loved Other People's Lives, so much and J.E. Rowney is super nice so I am really disappointed to be giving this one low stars. I am only reviewing the book though and not the author - personally I think the author is lovely.

Well as my two stars suggests I wasn’t able to get into this one properly. I found the premise intriguing but the execution was flat. Personally… if I am honest and I always am… I hated Ella. I thought she was a complete idiot and extremely childish.

I get it she suffered childhood trauma, but come on returning to the scene of the crime?? Really!!! I think that Ella herself throughout the book tells the reader how preposterous and stupid her actions are along the way HOWEVER that doesn’t make them ok. It doesn’t make it better if you are aware of your stupidity - it quite literally just makes you more of an idiot and I had very little sympathy for her.

I don’t want to go into any spoilers because I think there will be people that will love this one… I unfortunately wasn’t one of those people but it definitely was promising. I think that it was a bit clumsy and there were a few plot holes that just didn’t add up for me. This is one of those times where I think less definitely wasn’t more. The page count I believe was under 200 and I usually love that a nice short sharp, quick paced novel to sink my teeth into. I think that the short page count did this one a disservice.

The reader isn’t able to get to know anyone properly, we aren’t able to explore the backstory of anyone in any depth and I was just left wondering all the time. It felt rushed and like I said clumsy. What did unfortunately happen though was the story was really repetitive which is one of my least favourite ways for a MC to get their point across. There was suspense but it was glossed over and there was a little action but it fell flat.

Without going in to spoilers there isn’t much more I can say, I will come back to this author again because after Other People’s Lives I think there is something waiting to burst out and be amazing… just a swing and a miss for me this time.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial, NetGalley and J.E. Rowney for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Grace Convertino · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being notified of her mentally abusive father’s death, Ella is told she has inherited his estate, Bittersweet Acres. The home is filled with the traumatic memories of her mother’s death and her father’s abuse, and Ella’s first instinct is that she doesn’t want it. Her boyfriend Dan convinces her that she should claim it, telling her since the property is paid in full, if they move in together and save both rents, they could slowly save for the renovations the entire homestead needs. Reluctantly, even though everything in her screams not to do it, she agrees. Everything in the home is exactly as she remembers it, only further dilapidated. She sees the same old furniture she remembers, the “security” bars on the windows, the locks on the doors, and spends her first night back and in her parents’ old bedroom and bed, restless and sleepless. Then she begins to hear footsteps at night, and in the morning finds her lunch is gone, nothing left but an empty container. She confronts Dan and is angry at his denial that it wasn’t him. Since it is just the two of them and Ella knows it wasn’t her, who else could it be? The footsteps come again that night, and in the morning she finds half of her lunch sandwich missing along with the first note. Again she blames Dan, and he denies it. Obviously the old house is very dangerous for her. Ella is physically and mentally exhausted and traumatized, but Dan insists he is innocent and only wants to help and protect her...but does he?

This well-written book is penned in an ominous voice, compelling the reader onward. The feeling of gaslighting is exceptionally pervasive, and the pages turn effortlessly until the resolution. It is easy for the reader to assume either Ella is becoming increasingly unhinged as a result of moving back to Bittersweet Acres or that Dan is a master of gaslighting; after all, before they moved in together they were “only messing around” and so we know as little about him as Ella does. It was very easy to not put two and two together to figure out what was happening when the reader is totally engrossed in reading in anticipation of what will happen next. We learn that the final traumatic event is the one that saves her life. After the twist in the reveal, it was plain in hindsight, but while reading, the reader really is trying to find out which one of the couple is the cause or if the turn will be supernatural, especially with Ella’s constant denial of belief in such things. I felt that the ending did not live up to the standard and tone set by the rest of the novel. After that twist and the ride the reader takes to get there, it feels almost…empty. I’d love to see the ending tweaked a bit to be as exciting to read as the rest of the story, and give Ella and Dan the ending they both deserve.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, J.E. Rowney, and Little Fox Publishing for the ability to read and review this ARC.

[Sara Nicole 🐦‍⬛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for letting me read this ARC!
wow! this book surprised me a lot, after seeing a few average/ slightly negative reviews on goodreads i didnt expect to love this book as much as i did!!
this was a super fast read, i flew through it in about an hour. partly because its quite short, but mostly because i couldnt get enough of it!! i loved the plot twist, however i DID see it coming from a mile away! i dont think its obvious at all tho, just a theory that popped into my head that ended up being correct!
i absolutely love the way it was written, the vocabulary and sentence structure and everything! its hard to explain but it feels like it was written by me, LOL. this is exactly how i wouldve written this story!
easy 5 stars! i hope this book does well when its officially published!

[Lin Perrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the kindle copy in exchange for a honest review. When Ella's father dies the last thing she wants to do is return to her childhood home Bittersweet Acres. Her new partner Dan talks her into it and they move in. Ella finds the memories of her troubled childhood overwhelming. Strange notes start to appear and Ella can hear footsteps at night. Is the housr haunted. A brilliantly written gripping thriller with a twist at the end.

[Laura C · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slow paced psychological thriller with a unique ending that leaves you thinking “how pathetic is that?!?”

[Carrie Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

After reading and loving OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES, I was delighted to find GASLIGHT on Book Sirens. I downloaded it and settled in for what I was sure was going to be another twisty, clever tale.

Well, the story line certainly sounded compelling. Ella's father, whom she has had a contentious relationship with, dies. Her kind of/sort of partner Dan, upon finding out that she is now the sole heir of her childhood home Bittwesweet Acres, urges her to make the move so the two of them can make a life together without struggling to pay rent.

This was my first red flag. Ella is the kind of woman I can't stand, the kind who doesn't take control of her life and just lets things happen to her. The whole "relationship" with Dan was eye-rolling, and they seemed more like roommates than a couple. Also, if she suffered such trauma in that house as she claims, why would she go back to it? If it was the case of a woman determined to confront a painful past and move on, I'd be cheering her on. But no, she's going because Dan thought it would be a good idea.

I will say the creepy things that start happening to Ella in the house almost immediately had my attention. The fact that Dan wasn't affected by any of the events definitely made me think that someone (or something) had it in for Ella. My rating was picking up as the events continued to unfold. Truthfully, this part of the book was so well done that it was making me a little paranoid to read while alone.

HOWEVER, then I got to the end. I was expecting terror, shock, a big reveal! I'm assuming in an attempt to be clever with the title, the author dropped the "big" bombshell and had me rolling my eyes and sighing in disgust. I understand the signs were there, but it just felt like a cheap ending.

I'll continue to read this author because I do like the fact that her books typically have open endings, which I appreciate as a reader. This one just wasn't one of my favorites. Thank you to Book Sirens and the publisher for my early copy. GASLIGHT will publish January 27, 2023.

[The_5ft_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

expected something more from this, the story felt like it was building to something really intense but the ending lets it down!

[Ieva Valentinavičiūtė · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very quick read, and I found most of it enjoyable. I liked the first-person narrative, which provided insight into Ella's thoughts and feelings. Rowney portrayed her anxiety and confusion well, keeping me on edge as I tried to unravel the mystery behind the creepiness. I had theories on what was happening but I didn't guess corectly. It feels like the author was trying to lead the readers to a certain direction to confuse them.

Throughout the story, I found Ella's boyfriend, Dan, so unlikeable. My opinion of him remained unchanged, even when I wasn't sure if he was the one tormenting Ella. It is clear that he never actually cared about her and it made me so upset and angry when he was dismissive of her when she was feeling so bad.

The final note at the end left me feeling confused, I couldn't even write a review right away because I needed time to gather my thoughts. Overall, while the book held my interest, the ending left me feeling gaslighted by the story.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick novella to read, the plot was quite fast paced and you are left wondering if she is being gaslighted or haunted, but the ending itself was a a bit too convenient and rushed. There wasn't much backstory on why Ella had such an issue with the house, just hints dropped here or there and I think this would work better as a longer novel if that could have been explored.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.

[Kyla Harney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Definitely a creepy book, but I did guess the ending about halfway through. Still a quick read

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gaslight by J.E. is a psychological thriller about a young woman returning to her childhood home.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher BooksGoSocial and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ella Jackson swore she would never go back to her childhood home, which she left at age 18.  Her mother had killed herself there, the only way she could escape an abusive husband.

Now, 10 years later, her father has passed away, and Ella has inherited Bittersweet Acres.  She doesn't want it, but her rather new boyfriend Dan, convinces her that the two of them should move in to the place, and they can renovate.  It will be worth a small fortune at some point down the road.

But it doesn't take Ella long to realize she made a mistake.  Between the strange noises outside her bedroom door, the notes that she starts finding, her missing lunches,  she feels like she may be going crazy.  She also no long trusts Dan.   Dan keeps saying she needs help, but she isn't sure if she needs psychiatric help, or help to get away from Dan.


My Opinions:
This was a really fast and entertaining read.  It wasn't great though.

The premise was good, and I liked how we learned about Ella's past a little bit at a time.  That worked well.

I couldn't really get into the characters.  Ella was just another weak woman -- and that's before she got sucked into giving the house another shot by a domineering boyfriend.

I liked the creepiness, and yes, the tension built well,  but the ending  was a bust.  It just seemed wrong.

I've read a couple of this author's books, and they are hit and miss...One was a five star for me, and the other a three, so here is another three.  I won't give up reading her books though....I'm waiting for another five star!


For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Labannya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaslight means to manipulate someone using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning.
First of all the title is super apt for the book, for the story itself. The book is about Gaslighting only.

Can you trust someone if you don't trust your own self? Ella, after hearing of her father's death, the last thing she wants is to return to the childhood home. Because unlike others that childhood home still haunts her. Dan, her living partner managed convincing her to relocate or to move there as she inherits it plus she don't have to face anymore major financial crises now that a roof above her.
At first, the memories of her past overwhelm her, but the move to Bittersweet Acres is more dangerous than Ella could ever have imagined. Strange notes start to appear, Ella's behaviour becomes erratic, and she's sure that Dan is responsible for the bizarre events that threaten her mental and physical health. Dan says he's trying to protect her, but nothing is as it seems.

This was a super fast paced read, I read it in few hours. I guess its quite short, but mostly because I couldnt get enough of it!! I so loved the plot twist, however I did see it coming from a mile away!
I absolutely love the way it was written, the vocabulary and sentence structure and everything! Most importantly the English is very easy to read... no complex words. This my second book by the author and she already became my favourite and go to author in instant.

Highly recommended.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you @netgalley @booksgosocialgroup @Littlefoxpublishing for the #arc in exchange for a honest review.

[Anne Radley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

The plot keeps you guessing, who do you trust, who it telling the truth. The book is well written and easy to read.

[R Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

From an analytical point of view, I loved Gaslight. This fast read is gripping from the first sentence and truly had me hooked! It was the first time I've ever read something that genuinely unsettled me, deep in my core, outside of a Stephen King novel, and I loved it! Vivid in its ability to draw you in and put you in the protagonists POV, by whom it is written, it was relatable in the way all the little, mundane ways of life were relayed, right from the get-go. With a cast of only about 5 characters, it keeps the mind reeling as to who could be causing such upheaval in the protagonist, Ella's, life, furthering the mystery. As the days slowly tick by, every one worse than that before it, Ella is plagued by fear and uncertainty, both in herself and those around her. Fear is compounded not only by Ella being told she isn't thinking straight, but full physical symptoms along with what we're unsure for a while if is a paranormal or tangible threat. She can't sleep, hears unsettling noises, has intense migraines and fever, finds chilling notes left for her, and the heating in the house keeps shutting off leaving her waking in a freezing condition morning after morning, all the while her partner is dismissal of her plight and belittles her for suffering.

Now to get a little ranty while keeping it spoiler-free and shedding light on a few triggering subjects. Dan is a d*ck. You don't dismiss your partner's very real pain, nor her fear, and you absolutely don't tell her she's being difficult or needs to get over her symptoms. You can't tell someone "you're insane", or "being impossible" and think you're in the right for that. And as much as you try to resolve things nicely in the end for readers, you also owe justice to the people who read this relating to Ella: those who have been gaslit before, and manipulated, and convinced there's something wrong with them. I think the author owed it to Ella and all those she represents to have her happy ending be one of personal fulfillment, rather than a "happily ever after" in a relationship with someone who treats her like an annoyance in his life.

As a sensitivity/ accuracy reader mostly centred around disabilities, this felt very wrong, ESPECIALLY from someone who has been in many of the situations Ella talks about throughout the book (but also having both physical and mental disabilities myself). Either Dan wants to be there for her through it all, as he claims several times through the book, or he sees her sickness as a burden - he can't have it both ways. The apologist ending where Ella defends her father and tries to forgive his blatant abuse over a couple of decades also dampened the ending for me, badly. Abuse is abuse, especially when he had two decades to fix his act and losing his wife AND child as a direct result didn't push him to try and do better, apologise, reach out, seek help, nothing. For this reason, my original projection of a 5 star rating has been lowered to a 4.

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ella Jackson's father has passed away. She is left with her childhood home and the acreage it sits on in the middle of nowhere. She is extremely hesitant to return to a house that has caused her so much grief. Upon hearing that she has inherited what he believes to be an amazing house and opportunity, her boyfriend, Dan, suggests they move out there and renovate it in the hopes of either staying or selling it.

Not too long after they arrive strange things start to happen to Ella. Memory loss, sleepwalking, hearing things, finding strange notes. She begins to believe she is losing her mind. Either that or Dan is trying to drive her crazy, just like her dad had done to her mom. Can Ella figure out what is actually happening before it's too late?

Having read a book by this author previously that I really enjoyed, when I saw this new book was available, I didn't hesitate. However, this book felt lackluster. The author does a good job of building tension and implying that something sinister might be happening. However, the "twist ending" was not at all what I thought it would be or what Id hoped it might be. For me, there were a lot of unanswered questions. Ella never really describes the reasons why she hated her dad, left as a teen or what really happened to her mom, although it was implied. Despite this, I was able to read it in just over an hour. It was a page turner for me even though I ended up being disappointed. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new take on suspense and mystery in an old house.

Ella is still working on overcoming issues from her traumatic childhood with an alcoholic father when his death opens a possibility she would never have considered before.
Going home.
Going back to live in the house where she grew up and is the setting for so much of that traumatic childhood. It is not something she is sure she wants, but her boyfriend, Dan, points out all the advantages. Not only would it give them a place to live rent-free, but together they could renovate the property and wipe out those bad memories.
But once they have moved back in, strange things keep happening and Ella finds herself trapped in a terrifying new trauma.
There is no doubt about it J.E. Rowney is a really excellent writer. She takes the reader on a suspenseful ride, wondering what is going on and whether the house is haunted, Ella is losing it or Dan is tormenting her for some twisted reason.
The denouement is one I suspect many won’t see coming and allows an unexpected ending for Ella.
I’d recommend this to all lovers of suspense and mystery who like to have an adrenaline kick in their reading.

[Nicki Thoirs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rowney captured the chaos of Ella's mind throughout the pages of this book. For such a short book, there wasn't much going on, and there was a lot of repetition. However, I believe Rowney did this intentionally. I was filled with anxiety during my read, trying to make my mind up about Dan and Bittersweet Acres. The ending was quite anticlimatic for me. When we discover who the bad guy was, I didn't quite buy into it and was disappointed that Ella just folded and accepted it. Even her acceptance at the end, I felt, didn't resonate with her character.
I haven't made my mind up yet if that was intentional on the authors part or if we were fed the wrong information about her character at the beginning of the book. I have a lot of questions, that have not been answered, and I need to force someone else to read this book, so I can start a debate about some of the theories floating around in my head. In all, I feel this book was less about the story and more about creating an opportunity for discussion.

[Penelope ✈️ theflyawaygirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an
ARC of this book.

Ella is just in the beginnings of a relationship with Dan, when she gets a call about her dad. He’s dead. She’s glad. There’s no love lost there. She also inherits the family home, an isolated property called Bittersweet Acres. Originally, she just wants to get rid of the property but Dan convinces her to move in to the house with him, and they’d fix it up together.

Once they move in, Ella starts hearing noises. Eventually mysterious notes start popping up. Things happen that she can’t explain. Is it Dan? Is he trying to make her go crazy? Is he doing this to get the house?

Overall, the premise for a novel was good. However, the book simply didn’t resonate with me. It felt a little rushed and I really wasn’t keen on the twist/reveal and the ending. Unfortunately it just didn’t quite hit the spot for me.

[Renko Dekker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book of 2023! It was a rather quick read and the book itself was quite short as well. Its Gaslight by JE Rowney which I received from BooksGoSocial via Netgalley. It will be published on the 27th of January.

We follow Ella who inherits Bittersweet Acres from her father. She had a horrible childhood caused by her father. That's why she is not keen on returning. Once she returns with her rather new boyfriend, she feels trapped and she quickly deteriorates mentally. Is het boyfriend Dan the cause, or is it the house? Who can she trust?

This was a quick read. A bit rushed at times but still a decent story. The characters weren't that well worked as the book was too short to actually create some depth. However, the story itself was quite nice. Especially the explanation at the end, and the very last chapter. You still don't know it for sure!

3/5⭐

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great quick read, I just didn't really like the characters. Dan was obviously using Ella, was kind of weaselly, and didn't seem to truly care about Ella at all. And Ella was a huge pushover! A lot of the backstory was never explained, and a lot of things just weren't realistic. I did love how much Ella loved and missed her mother though, you could tell that even after 10 years she was still grieving. :'(

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put down! I couldn’t imagine moving to a house that’s holds such bad/traumatizing memories. Especially with a boyfriend who not serious with that’s got no label. Then thinking he’s plotting against you to drive you crazy or worse. That he has an agenda. Love the notes with just couple of words and suspicions. The dual point of view. *I was given an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good psychological thriller that focuses on a young woman who moves into a house with history and ghosts with her boyfriend. It's a fun read with a stunning ending. However, I never could quite enjoy the writing style. It was forced voice and felt very uncomfortable. And it did not make up for the lack of character development.

[Christina Jacobson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have had so much more potential! There could have been more information about her crappy childhood and why she was so traumatized of the house? The end was dumb, and could have been waaaaay better and have there be an actual twist. the POV is the MFC telling this story and was making it sound like terrible things were happening to her.... she was a little over dramatic. if I have to give a positive, I can say that it was a quick read....but don't waste your time.

[Estee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to sun this book up in one word it would be: crazy.

Elle and Dan are barely in a committed relationship when she learns that her estranged father has passed away and left her their family home.

The couple decided to move into the remote estate together to repair the house. But the house holds a lot of bad memories for Elle. And mysterious things keep happening.

This story was a quick read. It kept me interested to the end but I thought it ended a bit abruptly.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this book.

[haze_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this in a few hours. It wasn't a bad book by any means and had some really creep suspenseful moments but I just found it predictable and when the big reveal came I was massively underwhelmed

[Rach Fordham · Rating 4 out of 5]

First JE Rowney book I have read and I was not disappointed. It is an absolute page turned from start to finish.

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5