Accumulation

by Aimee Pokwatka

A twisty, searing, conversation-starting novel about a filmmaker-turned-housewife who moves into her dream house and is forced to consider whether it's the house or herself that is haunted.

When documentary filmmaker turned stay-at-home mom Tennessee Cherish moves into the the dream house her husband bought for her, a brighter future seems to be on the horizon. Even if her husband is frustratingly absent due to his new high-paying job. Even if their two young children begin acting out in strange ways. Even if she feels lonelier than ever.

Distracted by the endless details that come with moving into a new town, a new house, and new schools, Tenn doesn’t notice when odd things begin happening at home. The faucet that runs at all hours. The creepy doll that seems to show up in every room. The human tooth they found in the floorboards.

As the kids’ outbursts and the strange events start to escalate, the family finds themselves increasingly caught in loops, repeating everyday actions with dangerous—and then devastating—effects. Tenn realizes she must find the source of what is haunting her family, before it kills them all.

Taut and twisty, scary and searing, Aimee Pokwatka’s Accumulation lays bare the high price women pay for the promises of domesticity and motherhood, and the many ways in which families can be haunted.

Genres: Horror, Adult, Paranormal, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Aimee Pokwatka is the author of the novels Self-Portrait with Nothing and The Parliament. Born and raised in West Virginia, she studied anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received her MFA in creative writing from Syracuse University. Her third novel, Accumulation, will be published in May 2026. She lives in New York with her family.

Reviews

[Matt Milu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew that ghosts were like the Kardashians and craved camera time? What a mysterious and creative take on apparitions and possessions! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published May 5, 2026.

3.5 stars

I have a hard time with stories where spouses are lying to each other about dumb stuff. Tennessee was once a documentary filmmaker, now she’s a homemaker and she, Ward and their two children Anders and Ainsley have just moved from North Carolina to New York (never a good idea) for Ward’s fancy, demanding new job. They’ve moved into what is meant to be Tenn’s dream house but it quickly becomes clear there’s something wrong there; a doll that keeps appearing, strange things happening with the kids, a faucet that won’t turn off. And then things get worse.

The author does a good job with the sense of menace and dread, but I really did not, at all, understand the end of the book, which I kind of feel like was the whole point. So, I feel like giving that extra half star was generous. But I’m a giver.

[Brandy Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple buys an old house in hopes of salvaging their marriage. As their relationship fractures, so do the walls, literally. The house becomes both a metaphor and the monster. While that could have been compelling, the execution feels uneven as there were so many other subplots added.

Tenn narrates most of the story, though not always reliably. She suffers from depression and intrusive thoughts.

The husband’s character is underdeveloped. His job is referenced with vague mystery that never pays off. And their parenting choices seem questionable…

Overall, this book tries to juggle too many ideas: domestic drama, haunted house, and camera loving ghosts but never commits fully to any of them.

As it is, this is sort of a haunted mess with potential buried under its floorboards. 2.5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars (rounding up)

The book started out so strong for me but kind of fizzled out by the end, and I found the ending itself to be just fine and nothing that's going to leave me pondering. During the first act I was thinking the book might be 3.5 stars, then it went down to 3 and 2.5 in the second and third acts.

The book begins with a family of four - Tenn, Ward, Anders and Aisling (mother, father, older brother, younger sister) - starting over in a new state, new house, new careers and schools. Tenn seemed rather unhappy in their previous life, and Ward "gifted" this new life to her, but she can't help but to feel pretty isolated and lonely in a place where she has no support system. On top of that, Ward knows of Tenn's battle with anxiety/depression, and is constantly leaving her alone to take care of everything with the house and the kids while he works more than a full-time job, always consumed with work, and tries to ignore all problems that he can't easily fix. Oh, also, something about their new house/life seemed haunted, a problem that *certainly* doesn't have a simple solution. As one could imagine, Tenn's mental state also takes a turn for the worse due to her current situation, making reality a bit... slippery?

The set up seemed like something I was definitely going to be into; I love a good psychological horror/unreliable reality situation. And in the beginning, as we're first shown Tenn's continuous, rambling, sped-up, run-on thoughts and everything turning strange, I was invested. However, after a while, the narrative started becoming repetitive and dragging a bit - not great when the e-book was only 235 pages.

The target audience would be someone looking for an emotional haunted house/ghost story with an unsettling atmosphere, but not necessarily someone looking for a lot of scares along the way.

Thank you so much to the publisher Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book! Accumulation is set to be released 5.5.26!

[Alenna Burleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story we follow a family who has just moved into their forever home, when weird things keep piling up the wife starts wondering what is real and what isn’t.

I ended up having to dnf this around 78% through. I felt like it was really hard to get into, I didnt like the characters. There was a lot of amnesia type of things and recurring events that just made this book super hard to follow. This one was just unfortunately not for me.

Thank you Netgally for sending this one over!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam, and Aimee Pokwatka for this ARC. This review contains my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*

This might be one of my favorite ARCs I’ve ever read. It was the kind of creepy I loved about We Used to Live Here - where you feel unsettled, even during the little things. The confusion and helplessness Tenn feels trying to figure out why and how and IF her house is haunted was one of the most compelling things about this book. I feel like haunted house books can feel a little cheesy or outlandish or even (god forbid) boring. But this one was unique. I never felt like I was being dragged through an overdone or misleading plot line. And I never felt like I knew what was going to happen next. I felt so bad for everyone in the family, so when they felt helpless, I felt helpless. I wanted them to figure “IT” out. As I was nearing the end, I was so afraid the book would conclude lazily, but it really did feel satisfying - even if it wasn’t necessarily the best outcome (in my opinion). It made sense. I am definitely an Aimee Pokwatka fan now.

[this_eel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidly three stars, because I zipped through it and enjoyed much of the writing and many of the elements of haunting, but...! I really did enjoy the reading experience, which went so fast and was facilitated by competent, readable prose and tantalizing ideas. But! these things were a disguise for dropped plot lines, connections left unmade, and flat characterization. (More below.) There was much promise in the deteriorating house, Tenn's mental health struggles, the children's erratic behavior, the crappy workaholic husband! I was thoroughly absorbed by all of the questions and trials raised through most of the book. But solutions for some of these issues, or even open endings, are left unaddressed, or else the solutions come easy and out of nowhere. In other words, 80% of a grand old time, let down severely by the 20%--the hardest part of any book, of course--that is bringing all your ideas to a compelling resolution.

The sources of my dissatisfaction: I really didn't want the husband plot to be resolved by the husband suddenly dropping his workload and being attentive and emotionally open with no real moment of revelation--total character about face and I don't know why. I didn't want the medium Tenn met in the library to become her bestie for no reason AND explain everything. I wanted to know if the house was deteriorating because of Tenn's hauntedness or because it really was a shit purchase. I want to know why they stopped worrying about money halfway through the book when they're racking up tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. And why they're staying in such a physically dangerously literally unhinged house with their children. I wanted the sudden worsening of Tenn's haunting to be explicitly linked to the death of her childhood friend, instead of both plotlines being raised and ruminated on and never connected. I wanted a conversation with Aisling between Aisling and Tenn about Aisling's haunting - treat her like an intelligent being PLEASE, even if she is little!

Also: I don't care for the conclusion: "you can dehaunt yourself by engaging in creative activities" is a reasonable if a little lackluster moral, but "and you can do that by setting up a live feed of your house that shows your children all the time" is an absolutely dreadful extension of that moral. I felt for you when you were accidentally making your husband fall off a ladder dozens of times in a row but NOT when you momfluence your already deeply troubled children to rid yourself of ghosts. Goodbye Tenn I knew you medium.

All in all, fast and fun and lets itself down.

This book was received as a free ARC from the publisher.

[Jess Reads Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

Tenn and her family move away from north Caroline to New York to accommodate her husband’s new job. They find a house with a lot of character and personality, but sometimes there is such a thing as too much character. In no time, the kids are acting weird, her husband is also being strange, and weird things just kind of happen around Tenn… is it her? Or her house?

Ok this book was pretty creepy overall. Parts of it hooked me and there were other parts that left me scratching my head. There was a lot going on and I wasn’t a fan of the entirely family dynamic. The husband and wife relationship felt very… unnecessarily tense. Just talk about things! It’s a common trope
I think, where there’s this haunting or whatever and the only grown ups in the story act like they can’t communicate. As for the kids, they were out of control and the parents were not great. Like the worst kind of gentle parenting ever. Brother hits sister? “Honey apologize” “NO” runs away and slams door. I can’t.

Aside from the family tropes, some of the odd goings on were genuinely creepy. The repetitive actions, the doll… some of the background story involving Tenn felt a bit vague, but I guess you can still get the gist. I don’t really get the ending. I mean I do but it’s also like, what? I’m just not sure I understand what’s being relayed. That’s probably on me though.

Sufficiently creepy if you’re into the trope mentioned above!

Pub date: May 5, 2026

[Mattie B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a chore to get into. We follow, mainly Tenn who is extremely unreliable as this family ventures into a new house. They realize this house comes with more than they bargained for. Tenn and Ward were infuriating with their lack of communication/miscommunication anytime a problem arose, and their parenting was questionable at the very least. We switched perspectives often throughout the book without any distinction or warning, which took me out of the story because I spent more time trying to figure out whose voice we were reading from instead of getting into the mood of the story. It took half the book to even get into the questionable aspects of the ghost story or to ramp up on any paranormal-ish things occurring in the house. The characters were the main culprit for the lack of enjoyment in reading this. The writing wasn’t terrible but it was sometimes disjointed. By the end, I was underwhelmed.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kelly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first 7/8 of this book. It really had some unsettling moments. Unfortunately, I did not care for the ending.

Tenn and her husband, Ward, have moved their family to New York State to the home of Tenn’s dreams. It’s a consolation prize of sorts because of Ward’s extremely demanding (but well paid) job. Tenn is so overwhelmed with doing most of the parenting, running the household, and putting her own career on hold that she at first doesn’t notice when things are odd around the house. And odd they are: doors locking seemingly on their own, lights flickering, the works.

Other than the very end, this book had my full attention. The ending just seemed too easy of a solution, and implausible.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka
5/5✨
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!
Accumulation follows Tenn, her husband, and 2 children as they move into what is supposed to be Tenn’s dream house with all of its quirks and character. As they’re attempting to settle in Tenn watches helpless as the foundation starts falling apart, and strange and terrifying things begin happening to her and the other members of her family. With all of this Tenn begins wondering if their new home is her dream or her nightmare.
I’ll be honest, at the beginning I was not super drawn in and wasn’t expecting this to be a 5 star read but as the story went on I became continuously more enthralled and invested in the characters and the unfortunate events befalling the family. This book kept me on my toes and constantly stressed about what would happen next and I absolutely loved it!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This was what living did - preserve the dead."

In Accumulation, Tenn and her husband Ward have just moved into the house of their dreams with their two children, hoping for a fresh start. Mourning the loss of her filmmaking career after motherhood took its place, Tenn deals with an increasingly absent husband and children who are beginning to act out in increasingly strange ways. These stresses distract her from their new home that is not quite right, until the unnerving and disruptive occurrences cannot be ignored. A creepy doll that moves about on its own, ever-growing cracks in the wall, and strange figures moving in the shadows. When the house begins to affect her children, husband, and Tenn herself, she must discover how to save her family from unseen forces, while simultaneously worrying that she may be the one slipping into insanity.

This tale is dark and full of twists. It is a fresh and welcome take on the classic ghost story, but with a massive beating heart at the center of it. The way the character's relationships are written is beautiful and insightful. Accumulation deals with themes of identity, motherhood, family, loss, and love. All while being a perfectly unnerving and creepy haunting story. I also must say, the cover art pulled me in right away!

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! It was the perfect read to start out spooky season! 👻

4.5★'s

[Trisha]

ooooooh this one sounds great! Who is haunted - the family, the house - or the mother?

[DebbieT071914 Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book initially captivated me with its intriguing premise. However, the shift to discussing self-harm and psychological issues diminished the story’s impact. While I can empathize with the protagonist’s mental state, the author’s overemphasis on psychological aspects detracted from the overall narrative. The story could have benefited from a stronger focus on the hauntings rather than mental illness. Despite this, the daughter’s well-developed character and intriguing role made the story enjoyable.

[Fifi’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so mid and I’m sad because I was expecting so much better because that’s one of the most unsettling, unique book covers I’ve ever seen. I’ll admit I mainly decided to read this cuz of the cover, but still. Goes to show that creepy cover does not equal creepy book.

Tenn and her family move into a new house on a street called Harmes Way (literally) and the first thing they do is find a creepy doll on the premises but they aren’t phased. Because that definitely is not foreshadowing. Plus the fact that the house “predates the use of electric lights by over 100 years” so wouldn’t that mean the house was literally built in the 1700s? Nothing phases this family apparently.

Ehhh. The main thing is this book just has no readability factor. I could read the most unoriginal book in the world and still somewhat enjoy it if it has readability. This book just doesn’t and I was fighting the urge to skim really early on. The best way I can describe this is this felt like the book equivalent of a B horror movie. But better written. It wasn’t badly written at all, that’s not the issue, it’s just plot wise it didn’t have enough going on to make this interesting. I thought I’d zip through it in one evening which was what I planned but it ended up dragging out for days. Also I kept falling asleep when I tried to pick it back up 😭

I did really like the family dynamic. It was sweet, and the ending was satisfying. I liked Ward and Tenn together and they were marriage goals, and it made me smile. It’s just, this just felt like one of those books where the whole plot could be summed up in 2 paragraphs and you wouldn’t really miss anything. Readability factor is a huge thing for me and this book just didn’t have it and I wanted to like it so badly!

I am rounding this up to 3 stars solely because I loved Tenn and Ward’s dynamic so much, it was romantic and sweet and their relationship goals. But plot wise and readability factor wise, this left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

[Tova Cayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This book features Tenn and her husband Ward and their two children as they move into a new house in New York, with Teen slowly seeing things, losing her grip and the question of what is causing the strange behavior of her and her family.

This book started off kind of slow, but I enjoyed the buildup. We get to see the family move into their new home, and the cracks (literally) start to form in the facade. We get to know Tenn and Ward, and see the flaws in her marriage, in her relationship with her children, and the flaws of her husband as a father and spouse. I really enjoy how we get to see mental health in relationship to motherhood, and the mundane and fantastical horrors of a woman slowly losing herself to repetition and the lack of accountability of a failing partner who leaves the wife to pick up all the pieces.

I love that we get to see the backstory of Tenn, how she loses herself as she no longer has her career for motherhood, and the devolving relationships of those around her. The pacing is slow throughout the entire book, but the experience felt claustrophobic and haunting, which is exactly what Tennessee goes through. The ending felt a little unanswered, I would have liked more of a resolution, but I did feel like there was a really great throughline throughout the entire book of the themes of motherhood, misogyny, weaponized incompetence, and the pressures society puts on mothers to do it all.

I would absolutely recommend this book. This book did something fiction books rarely do for me, which is make me really reflect on my own life, thoughts and features. I learned a lot from this book and it was really a fantastic read.

[Briana Shuman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel that hums with ideas about love, motherhood, loneliness, and the ghosts that come with wanting too much from life, but one that struggles to find its melody.

Tennessee Cherish what a name, both fragile and fierce moves into her dream home with her husband and children. The house creaks with history, with old bones and unseen things. She’s a woman trying to be everything at once: filmmaker, mother, wife, whole person. And in those cracks between the faucet that won’t stop running, the tooth under the floorboards, the absence of her husband you can hear something trying to speak. It’s eerie and sad and a little too real.

But as the story unravels, it loses its footing. There’s a haunted house story here, a commentary on domestic expectations, a meditation on mental health, and a thread of supernatural mystery but they keep stepping on each other’s toes. The result feels like a home filled with too many voices talking over one another. Some moments glimmer with sharp insight, while others blur into confusion.

The husband remains more shadow than man, and the ending feels like a conversation cut short unfinished, as if the book itself got tired of haunting its own halls.

Still, I can’t fault Accumulation for trying. It wants to say something big about the ways women vanish inside the homes they build, how love and fear can sometimes share the same space. It just needed a quieter room to speak from.

2.5 stars. Thoughtful in intent, uneven in execution a haunting that echoes more than it lands.

Thank you to the author, Aimee Pokwatka, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕--𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓.

Tennessee 'Tenn' Cherish is a former documentary filmmaker who is navigating several huge changes in her life, two of them being becoming a stay-at-home mother and relocating with her husband and two children to a charming, quaint home in a new location. The move was supposed to be a fresh start for the family, but almost immediately, the problems start.

Tenn feels burdened with the minutiae of child rearing while trying to carve out a space for herself. Her husband's demanding job keeps him busy and away from home, but when the children start acting out in disturbing ways, Tenn knows she needs some help. She feels caught in a loop, repeating the same actions and doing the same things, but she can't determine if that's the life of a SAHM or something far more sinister.

There was a definite creep factor to this story, especially with the doll that kept showing up in odd places and the child who would 'sleepwalk' and dig in the neighbor's yard. However, there is a slight feeling of disconnect I had while reading that kept this from being a five-star read. It's that vague feeling of being an outsider and not completely immersed in the story, and I think that's because I felt like Tenn was keeping the reader at arm's length. Despite this small flaw, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and it will have you asking yourself, or places haunted, or are people? Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the early read. This title will publish May 5, 2026.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accumulation was a mixture of House of Leaves, Sinister, and Mike Flanagan’s Haunting of Hill House. This novel is about the horror and soul-sucking nature that can be domestic work, and how an unequal relationship can lead to resentment, depression, and loneliness. So much was happening to Tann that it kept me very engrossed in the book. I felt compelled to keep reading so that I could see what happened next and try to figure out what was plaguing her family. I really felt Tann’s hopelessness, loneliness, and feelings of abandonment in her marriage and life. At times, I wanted to strangle Ward to sit and actually listen to his wife! He was aggravating in the ways a man can only be lol. The first half of the book moved really fast and not in a bad way, and there were really cool elements with Tann’s new haunted house, the always-moving doll, and time loops. However, the ending fell a little flat to me just because of how quickly everything was wrapped up at the end, and I felt like there were some plot holes. Overall, it was good and I was really invested in Tann’s story and how she was to survive her life-absorbing house.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC!

[Ashley (ashreadsitall) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accumulation is a horror novel that explores the impact of the monotony of every day life. Tennessee is a now stay-at-home mom living in a new city and her dream home with her two young children and husband, Ward. The story begins with them moving to this old, mysterious home after her husband scores a high-paying gig that allows them to live well.

We soon learn that the house is making Tenn go crazy. But, is it she who crazy or is she haunted?

What I liked: Strong start right out of the gate! Wow I was reeled in. For mothers out there, you’ll connect with the challenges of taking care of children and balancing responsibilities. I felt like I was in a fever dream at times by living in Tenn’s head.

“Ward took her hand and held it to his chest. He was angry because he was scared, and he was scared because he loved her, which she knew even though he didn’t say it.”

What I didn’t like: Although it hooked me, it didn’t reel me in. There wasn’t enough character development in some areas, specifically with Senna. (I wanted more here) The ending seemed too quick and not satisfying at all.

Thanks to Net Galley for this arc!

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out May 5th, 2026
The story centers on Tennessee Cherish, a former documentary filmmaker turned stay-at-home mother, who relocates with her family to a picturesque dream house purchased by her husband. At first, the move promises a fresh start, but Tenn quickly finds herself isolated—her husband is often absent due to work, her children begin acting out in disturbing ways, and the house itself seems to harbor unsettling secrets.

As Tenn adjusts to her new surroundings, strange phenomena begin to surface: a faucet that runs endlessly, a creepy doll that appears in every room, and a human tooth discovered in the floorboards. These eerie occurrences escalate alongside her children’s increasingly erratic behavior, trapping the family in bizarre loops of repeated actions with dangerous consequences. Tenn’s sense of reality begins to unravel as she suspects that something malevolent is manipulating their lives, forcing her to confront the possibility that the house—or perhaps something within herself—is haunted.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this fun ARC!

[Jen W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tennessee is a filmmaker whose career hasn't went as she had hoped. When her husband is offered a job making a significant amount of money, they leave North Carolina for a small town in New York. Ward is excited for this new chapter with his wife, especially since they have moved to her dream home.

That dream home quickly becomes problematic with constant repairs and their daughter is acting out by sleepwalking or running away. Strange things happen around the house and Tennessee is starting to think the house is haunted.

I love how this story started out. I was nervous for the characters. I was excited to see where this story was going to go. However, in the last few chapters, I felt underwhelmed about how it was wrapping up.

While I didn't love the ending, I would definitely try another book by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnum and Sons publishing for the advanced reader copy.

[Kate Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in this book and it almost lost me a few times along the way before completely just fizzling out at the end. As I got closer to the end of the book I kept wondering how they were going to wrap it up and they kind of just… didn’t.

Tennessee Cherish and her husband buy a new house and she plans to return to the workforce now that both of her kids are older and in school. But at the new house her children begin acting out and her husband is increasingly absent, both of which begin impacting Tennessees new job as well. Not to mention the doll that keeps showing up, the nail that never stays hammered in and the odd loops of repetitive actions the family find themselves in. Is the house to blame, or is something else at fault here?

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

[Amanda W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

There’s a dreamy uneasiness to most of this novel, one that makes you think something bad might happen. Then, all of a sudden, your brow furrows and you say wait a minute, weren’t we already here? What’s real and what’s not? What is happening? That’s Aimee Pokwatka’s Accumulation, a unique little ghost story that gets under your skin. The premise (a family moves into a house that may or may not be haunted) is nothing new, and the inability of the characters to really speak or listen to each other is also a bit tired, yet I finished this book completely charmed by the resolution. Tenn and Ward, as well as their children, are not people you would necessarily root for, but the way the house and its inhabitants are dealt with is something I really haven’t seen before, but really enjoyed.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one really got under my skin in a quiet, unsettling way. Accumulation isn’t your typical haunted house story—it’s more psychological, more layered, and honestly, a little heartbreaking at times. There are creepy moments (a doll that moves around, weird noises, even a tooth—yeah), but the real horror here is wrapped up in isolation, exhaustion, and the slow unraveling of a woman who feels like she’s slipping through the cracks.

At times, it reminded me of The Babadook or Hereditary—not necessarily in the plot, but in the way it explores motherhood and mental strain through a horror lens. If you like your horror more emotional and atmospheric than jump-scary, this is a solid read.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an eARC prior to publication.

[Kirbee Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accumulation is almost like a modern day Yellow Wallpaper, except the protagonist’s husband actually loves her.

What I think I loved most about this book was the relationship between the couple, Tenn and her husband Ward. It felt very realistic. The way two people love each other but become absorbed by either the monotonous day-by-day or by selfishness. I found myself rooting for them throughout the book.

Though the ending was a bit lackluster for me, it still reminded me of the saying, “To be seen is to be loved.” And that’s what everyone in this story wants, to be seen, heard, acknowledged, loved.

This book does have spooky moments, and I think build up well. Overall I think it’s more of a love story with ghosts in it than a ghost story with romance in it. I really enjoyed it.

[Tracey Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accumulation, by the incredible Aimee Pokwatka, is such a strange, impactful novel that deeply resonated with me. Pokwatka is a highly intelligent writer; this was prominently displayed on her previous two novels, and Accumulation takes it to another level.

On the surface, this is a haunted house novel. Tenn and her husband Ward have moved into Tenn’s dream home with their two children. Tenn is a documentary filmmaker, who put her career on hold to raise her family. The house quickly sends messages that something is awry; a doll that disappears and reappears in strange places, weird noises, a persistent nail sticking out of the floor. Tenn’s son is also acting out in violent ways. Tenn must juggle these strange occurrences, along with her own fragile mental health.

By the time I reached the end of the novel, I was emotionally wiped out by Tenn’s journey as a mother, wife, and a person with dreams and aspirations. Aspects of her struggle were so familiar to me. Pokwatka has conveyed the drudgery of womanhood in such a perceptive and raw way.

But not only does Accumulation contain huge emotional depths, this is a genuinely frightening supernatural horror novel. I’m a huge horror reader, and it takes quite a lot to unsettle me, but there are moments in this novel that will stay with me for a long time.

I have been a proud Aimee Pokwatka cheerleader since I read her debut, Self Portrait with Nothing. Accumulation has cemented her as one of my favorite writers.

[Janessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC!

This book started off strong with a very creepy atmosphere, but fell apart once it started zooming toward the resolution. I wish the author had spent more time developing the haunting of the family and less on the protagonist's career ambitions. The ending fell so flat after such a frenzied buildup. Also, there were so many loose ends that didn't fit with the ending!

The author's prose was great, and I think with a good edit, this book can be something special. I'll look out for their next work.

[Alora Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out extra creepy, and I was excited to get started. The problem was that there were so many ideas going on, that there was no commitment to anything. Was this a haunted house? Was this a haunted person/family? Was this a domestic drama? Meh. Maybe it's none of them. Maybe it's all of them. Writing was good, but it went nowhere. And I really had to struggle to get to the end of this book. It was so hard to get through, and the plot moved very very very slowly.

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of this ARC. This book will be out in May of 2026.

[Chelsea Mathews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Release date is May 5th 2026

First I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for e-arc!

I just want to say that I did love this take on a haunted house! The cover made me believe it would go a different direction than it did, but still really enjoyed the reading experience.

The beginning certainly had me hooked, but started feeling a little flat towards the middle, picked back up and the ending was a bit mid for me. So, for me this was a solid 3.5 star read and would recommend it to anyone starting out in this genre.