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Accumulation
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.
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.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
32 people are currently reading
8082 people want to read
About the author
Aimee Pokwatka
5 books142 followersAimee 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Final rating: 3.5 stars
Title/Author: ACCUMULATION by Aimee Pokwatka
Format Read: NetGalley ebook (Thank you to the publisher for sending me a FREE final copy)
Pub date: May 5, 2026
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Page Count: 336
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/979821704...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
Haunted house tropes
Marriage/Domestic drama/Parenting
Unreliable narrator/Mental health
Creepy kid stuff
Ghosts/Hauntings/Paranormal activity
Motherhood/The balance of career and stay-at-home mom life/Loneliness/resentment
SYNOPSIS: 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.
__
Minor complaints:
The ending and the reveal or causation behind the whole conflict, left a little something to be desired. I feel like it either wasn't developed enough or just felt off--not really sure what the issue is with it, I just know it didn't feel "right" or satisfying
I'm not a reader who needs likable characters. I love flawed people in my horror, but these two were not great parents and it was a little hard to witness
Also, like with most haunted house stories, there is always that lingering question in the back of your mind, "Why don't they leave?" I feel like some storytellers/directors are able to minimize the noise of that burning question, while others only make it louder-this book made it louder
Final recommendation: Accumulation joins other books that center a dysfunctional marriage and a move to a new house with the hopes that this major (and stressful) change will "fix" or solve their problems. It's a trope that never bores me. I love a haunted house as a metaphor for marital trauma. There is an underlying essence of The Yellow Wallpaper as well. The narrator, Tenn is whisked off to her "dream home" by her husband, Walt as a way to appease her restlessness--his job is taking off and requiring more of his time away from home, while her filmmaking has taken a back seat so that she can stay home with the children. Happy wife, happy life--right? Not so much. The house is very needy and whatever is going on with Tenn can't be fixed so easily. The way the children behave in the house and at school, was probably my favorite part. 3.5 stars
Comps: Essence of The Yellow Wallpaper, The Grip of It /Jac Jemc, We Live Here Now/Sarah Pinborough, Cunning Folk by Adam Nevill, A Good House for Children/Kate Collins, How to Fake a Haunting/Christa Carmen, The September House/Carissa Orlando, This House Isn't Haunted But We Are/Stephen Howard, Ghost Mother/Kelly Dwyer
Title/Author: ACCUMULATION by Aimee Pokwatka
Format Read: NetGalley ebook (Thank you to the publisher for sending me a FREE final copy)
Pub date: May 5, 2026
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Page Count: 336
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/979821704...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
Haunted house tropes
Marriage/Domestic drama/Parenting
Unreliable narrator/Mental health
Creepy kid stuff
Ghosts/Hauntings/Paranormal activity
Motherhood/The balance of career and stay-at-home mom life/Loneliness/resentment
SYNOPSIS: 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.
__
Minor complaints:
The ending and the reveal or causation behind the whole conflict, left a little something to be desired. I feel like it either wasn't developed enough or just felt off--not really sure what the issue is with it, I just know it didn't feel "right" or satisfying
I'm not a reader who needs likable characters. I love flawed people in my horror, but these two were not great parents and it was a little hard to witness
Also, like with most haunted house stories, there is always that lingering question in the back of your mind, "Why don't they leave?" I feel like some storytellers/directors are able to minimize the noise of that burning question, while others only make it louder-this book made it louder
Final recommendation: Accumulation joins other books that center a dysfunctional marriage and a move to a new house with the hopes that this major (and stressful) change will "fix" or solve their problems. It's a trope that never bores me. I love a haunted house as a metaphor for marital trauma. There is an underlying essence of The Yellow Wallpaper as well. The narrator, Tenn is whisked off to her "dream home" by her husband, Walt as a way to appease her restlessness--his job is taking off and requiring more of his time away from home, while her filmmaking has taken a back seat so that she can stay home with the children. Happy wife, happy life--right? Not so much. The house is very needy and whatever is going on with Tenn can't be fixed so easily. The way the children behave in the house and at school, was probably my favorite part. 3.5 stars
Comps: Essence of The Yellow Wallpaper, The Grip of It /Jac Jemc, We Live Here Now/Sarah Pinborough, Cunning Folk by Adam Nevill, A Good House for Children/Kate Collins, How to Fake a Haunting/Christa Carmen, The September House/Carissa Orlando, This House Isn't Haunted But We Are/Stephen Howard, Ghost Mother/Kelly Dwyer
October 18, 2025
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.
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.
September 6, 2025
Who knew that ghosts were like the Kardashians and craved camera time? What a mysterious and creative take on apparitions and possessions! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
May 7, 2026
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Accumulation follows Tennessee Cherish, who goes by Tenn, and her family; husband, Ward and their two children, Anders and Aisling. They also have an adorable dog, Gogo, who makes frequent appearances throughout the book.
Though she had some early success as a documentary filmmaker, by the time we meet her, Tenn is a stay-at-home Mom, a role shift she continually grapples with over the course of the story.
The family has just moved from North Carolina to New York state after Ward buys Tenn her dream home. The historic home is larger than anywhere they've ever lived, and the large property provides plenty of room for the active family to spread out.
It's a huge move though, and both children begin acting strangely. Tenn assumes it's the move throwing them off, but with Ward working around the clock, she feels very unsupported trying to deal with it all.
Other very bizarre things are taking place within the home, but Tenn's so distracted just trying to get them all on track after the move that she hardly notices. That is until the disturbing occurrences turn dangerous. Soon Tenn feels like she's fighting for her life and that of her family.
She needs to figure out what's haunting this house, what's haunting her, if she wants to stand a chance of protecting her sanity, and keeping her family together.
Accumulation had me gripped for the vast majority of the book. I found everything happening in the house to be fascinating. Additionally, I enjoyed Tenn's perspective. I found it refreshing that she wasn't your stereotypical, cookie-cutter, fictional Mom.
The set-up was giving me Amityville Horror vibes, the 2005 movie remake, starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George, specifically. I certainly wasn't mad about that.
The young couple and their beautiful children moving into a historic home in New York. The unsettling little things kicking off pretty quickly. There's a creepy doll, a babysitter scene, and a lot involving the attic. It was all so well done.
The vibes were solid, and I'm nothing if not an atmosphere girlie. I anticipated rating this very highly. I was completely invested, even getting angry at Ward's behavior and her overall circumstances on Tenn's behalf. Who was moving that doll around?
Unfortunately, the last 10% sucked that enthusiasm down a couple notches, and though I was sad about it initially, I know it's just a personal taste issue.
If I had my way, the concluding scenes wouldn't have wrapped up quite so quickly, or easily, after that nail-biting build. Nevertheless, for the majority of the book I was at the edge of my seat and loving the exploration of domesticity and motherhood.
Nevertheless, I would absolutely recommend this to Horror Readers who are atmosphere and vibes Readers like myself. Also, if you want a slightly different take on a haunted house, I feel like this would scratch that itch.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I really enjoyed Pokwatka's character work and concepts. I'm looking forward to reading more from her in the future!
Accumulation follows Tennessee Cherish, who goes by Tenn, and her family; husband, Ward and their two children, Anders and Aisling. They also have an adorable dog, Gogo, who makes frequent appearances throughout the book.
Though she had some early success as a documentary filmmaker, by the time we meet her, Tenn is a stay-at-home Mom, a role shift she continually grapples with over the course of the story.
The family has just moved from North Carolina to New York state after Ward buys Tenn her dream home. The historic home is larger than anywhere they've ever lived, and the large property provides plenty of room for the active family to spread out.
It's a huge move though, and both children begin acting strangely. Tenn assumes it's the move throwing them off, but with Ward working around the clock, she feels very unsupported trying to deal with it all.
Other very bizarre things are taking place within the home, but Tenn's so distracted just trying to get them all on track after the move that she hardly notices. That is until the disturbing occurrences turn dangerous. Soon Tenn feels like she's fighting for her life and that of her family.
She needs to figure out what's haunting this house, what's haunting her, if she wants to stand a chance of protecting her sanity, and keeping her family together.
Accumulation had me gripped for the vast majority of the book. I found everything happening in the house to be fascinating. Additionally, I enjoyed Tenn's perspective. I found it refreshing that she wasn't your stereotypical, cookie-cutter, fictional Mom.
The set-up was giving me Amityville Horror vibes, the 2005 movie remake, starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George, specifically. I certainly wasn't mad about that.
The young couple and their beautiful children moving into a historic home in New York. The unsettling little things kicking off pretty quickly. There's a creepy doll, a babysitter scene, and a lot involving the attic. It was all so well done.
The vibes were solid, and I'm nothing if not an atmosphere girlie. I anticipated rating this very highly. I was completely invested, even getting angry at Ward's behavior and her overall circumstances on Tenn's behalf. Who was moving that doll around?
Unfortunately, the last 10% sucked that enthusiasm down a couple notches, and though I was sad about it initially, I know it's just a personal taste issue.
If I had my way, the concluding scenes wouldn't have wrapped up quite so quickly, or easily, after that nail-biting build. Nevertheless, for the majority of the book I was at the edge of my seat and loving the exploration of domesticity and motherhood.
Nevertheless, I would absolutely recommend this to Horror Readers who are atmosphere and vibes Readers like myself. Also, if you want a slightly different take on a haunted house, I feel like this would scratch that itch.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I really enjoyed Pokwatka's character work and concepts. I'm looking forward to reading more from her in the future!
October 1, 2025
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.
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.
September 1, 2025
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!
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!
May 8, 2026
Ward has recently gotten a new, higher-paying job and moved to what is supposedly his wife Tenn's dream home with their two children. I say "supposedly" because, although the home is much larger than what they had, it doesn't seem to be in good shape and is never really presented as anyone's idea of a dream home. Tenn has had some issues in the past with depression, and this is meant to be a fresh start for the family. Instead, everything goes rapidly sour as the children start behaving strangely, things go missing, silhouettes appear to be watching from the sidelines, and Tenn gets caught in a repeating loop of chaos. Trying to flee the house only seems to make matters worse. Is it really a haunted dream home, or is it Tenn herself who is haunted?
I always enjoy haunted house stories. When you throw in creepy happenings among kids, it really gets my adrenaline going. Particularly when I am not sure if you need to protect the children or need protection from the children. I have often times complained about repetitiveness in horror, but being caught in a loop worked for me in this book. I loved Tenn, and I loved to hate her husband, Ward. So many times, I just wanted to smack him and say step up! But I guess all haunted house stories need a useless husband to make things worse before they can get better.
My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-ARC
I always enjoy haunted house stories. When you throw in creepy happenings among kids, it really gets my adrenaline going. Particularly when I am not sure if you need to protect the children or need protection from the children. I have often times complained about repetitiveness in horror, but being caught in a loop worked for me in this book. I loved Tenn, and I loved to hate her husband, Ward. So many times, I just wanted to smack him and say step up! But I guess all haunted house stories need a useless husband to make things worse before they can get better.
My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-ARC
April 26, 2026
This haunted-house-as-metaphor-for-a -crumbling -marriage/being-true-to-yourself book, ended in the most inane manner. What follows is its synopsis; maybe it will appeal to you.
Tennessee Cherish—Tenn for short—has put aside her career as a documentary film maker to be a stay-at-home-mom. She takes on all responsibility because she doesn’t make the boo koo bucks her husband does. She isn’t too happy in this role, but unlike her husband, she shows up. Their marriage is strained so they decide to lift stakes in North Carolina, and start afresh in New York state.
As she tweezers fingernails, beads, and teeth out of the floorboards, an ugly and filthy doll keeps appearing and disappearing. Tenn begins experiencing strange thoughts; something her husband thinks are bogus (why doesn’t he believe and trust her?). Eventually, she realizes that she may be behind the odd events and black silhouettes that occur in their money-pit of a home. Can she save things before the really bad stuff begins? Was it worth going through just to have the most disappointing/Hallmark ending?
I would like to thank G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Tennessee Cherish—Tenn for short—has put aside her career as a documentary film maker to be a stay-at-home-mom. She takes on all responsibility because she doesn’t make the boo koo bucks her husband does. She isn’t too happy in this role, but unlike her husband, she shows up. Their marriage is strained so they decide to lift stakes in North Carolina, and start afresh in New York state.
As she tweezers fingernails, beads, and teeth out of the floorboards, an ugly and filthy doll keeps appearing and disappearing. Tenn begins experiencing strange thoughts; something her husband thinks are bogus (why doesn’t he believe and trust her?). Eventually, she realizes that she may be behind the odd events and black silhouettes that occur in their money-pit of a home. Can she save things before the really bad stuff begins? Was it worth going through just to have the most disappointing/Hallmark ending?
I would like to thank G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 19, 2025
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!
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!
April 18, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @putnambooks #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Accumulation
< @
Releases:
Anyone could do anything at any time…
"This is what's real, and the rest is bullshit."
It’s a new house; a new beginning. But things slowly start to unravel. There’s the nightmares, the scratches, the thoughts, things going missing.
Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka is a slow-brew creepy read that I enjoyed. While it did feel like the story went off on different tangents - and this would annoy me in other books - I found myself loving it here.
There’s the weird supernatural side of things happening in the house and then another physical side where everything is being put on Tenn, the mother. Are they stemming from the same thing or are they two separate happenings? Whether these forces share a common origin or exist as parallel afflictions remains uncertain to us, and it’s that ambiguity that I loved. The intersection of the supernatural and the deeply personal makes for an exceptional read.
A mysterious, possibly haunted house, with a creepy doll, and then the weight of everything that is always put on women and moms. Tenn losing her job because her kids are having troubles in school and GOD FORBID the father possibly takes any of the responsibility. He annoyed me to no end.
Memorable:
The author’s note
Pokwatka captures the strain of motherhood and partnership so beautifully - the fragile balancing act of identity, ambition, and obligation, and the psychological toll when that balance collapses. The domestic sphere becomes both battleground and prison. Just fascinating to examine.
And then there’s the house itself, coming apart at its seams. A reflection of everything unraveling around and within it - or something else entirely.
Thought-provoking and well written.
Love how I didn’t realize Gogo was a dog and not a little kid until around chapter 4-5…. 🫣😂
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and def recommend it. Ellen Adair did a phenomenal job and I enjoyed listening to her. She doesn’t only bring Tenn’s character to life but also the story. Just fab.
Told in three parts, I found the first half more intriguing but enjoyed all three.
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Accumulation
< @
Releases:
Anyone could do anything at any time…
"This is what's real, and the rest is bullshit."
It’s a new house; a new beginning. But things slowly start to unravel. There’s the nightmares, the scratches, the thoughts, things going missing.
Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka is a slow-brew creepy read that I enjoyed. While it did feel like the story went off on different tangents - and this would annoy me in other books - I found myself loving it here.
There’s the weird supernatural side of things happening in the house and then another physical side where everything is being put on Tenn, the mother. Are they stemming from the same thing or are they two separate happenings? Whether these forces share a common origin or exist as parallel afflictions remains uncertain to us, and it’s that ambiguity that I loved. The intersection of the supernatural and the deeply personal makes for an exceptional read.
A mysterious, possibly haunted house, with a creepy doll, and then the weight of everything that is always put on women and moms. Tenn losing her job because her kids are having troubles in school and GOD FORBID the father possibly takes any of the responsibility. He annoyed me to no end.
Memorable:
The author’s note
Pokwatka captures the strain of motherhood and partnership so beautifully - the fragile balancing act of identity, ambition, and obligation, and the psychological toll when that balance collapses. The domestic sphere becomes both battleground and prison. Just fascinating to examine.
And then there’s the house itself, coming apart at its seams. A reflection of everything unraveling around and within it - or something else entirely.
Thought-provoking and well written.
Love how I didn’t realize Gogo was a dog and not a little kid until around chapter 4-5…. 🫣😂
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and def recommend it. Ellen Adair did a phenomenal job and I enjoyed listening to her. She doesn’t only bring Tenn’s character to life but also the story. Just fab.
Told in three parts, I found the first half more intriguing but enjoyed all three.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the April 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe this book: immersive, quickly escalating terror, haunted house
Draft Review: Tenn, Ward, and their two kids have moved to a large, old house in upstate New York. Tenn, has struggled to get her once promising filmmaker career off the ground, but now is her chance, with the kids getting older and Ward’s new, better paying job. But, the kids are not adjusting well. They are having nightmares and misbehaving at school, while Ward is too busy to help. As the strange occurrences pile-up and reverberate, it becomes clear they have a very real problem, and Tenn’s skills as a filmmaker may be the one thing that can save them. Readers will fall easily into the story as the mundane unease of major life changes steadily escalates and works in tandem with Powatka’s thoughtful attention to seemingly small details, to shift the overall tone from detached dread to a rising tide of fear so intense that readers may need to step out of their own house for a breath of fresh air before finishing this one.
Verdict: A must add title for those who crave immersive, disorienting haunted house stories in the vein of The Grip of It by Jac Jemc, The September House by Carissa Orlando, and House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski.
As I was reading, I noted "why title?" It pays off and makes sense. I enjoyed that. I liked how just as I was thinking hmmmm, title? The story started to show me why. And without being gimmicky.
This is a serious haunted house story. One that is women decide to focus on their marriage or family, where the price women pay for domesticity is part of the story but also there is actually a haunting. This is not it's all in her head.
Tenn is the main character and most of the story is told through her, but her husband Ward does get some turns with point of view.
Begins as a family moves to an old house in a new town (from NC to upstate NY) to start over after some troubles. We learn of the troubles they had/are running from. But unlike many of these stories which make it only about the woman giving up her dreams and career for her husband and kids-- this book makes you think that is what is happening but it turns out all of it, even the things that appear to be this simple-- are not.
That was well done. The reasons Tenn has struggled with her filmmaker career and the reasons she has experienced bouts of depression and the reasons her children and husband are asking things worse with their behavior during the move-- it all begins to make sense from a haunted house standpoint not a price women pay for domesticity. Sure that is an undercurrent, but there is a cool supernatural/ghost based thing happening here.
It also makes fir some cool scenes in the book. I am not giving away what they are, but readers will notice things that seem off or repeated. spread out at first, but speeding up as it goes on.
As someone who read a lot of haunted house books, I appreciate the care Powatka put into telling a story that was well constructed and compelling. The details here are thoughtfully laid out and things come together in original ways. I did not know anything about Pokwatka before reading this book, and after reading, I can say with confidence I would read her next book.
For fans of intense, haunted houses stories that the reader feels-- immersive, disorienting, terrifying-- The Grip of It by Jemc, The September House by Orlando, Wonderland by Stage. Even a bit of House of Leaves here at times.
Three Words That Describe this book: immersive, quickly escalating terror, haunted house
Draft Review: Tenn, Ward, and their two kids have moved to a large, old house in upstate New York. Tenn, has struggled to get her once promising filmmaker career off the ground, but now is her chance, with the kids getting older and Ward’s new, better paying job. But, the kids are not adjusting well. They are having nightmares and misbehaving at school, while Ward is too busy to help. As the strange occurrences pile-up and reverberate, it becomes clear they have a very real problem, and Tenn’s skills as a filmmaker may be the one thing that can save them. Readers will fall easily into the story as the mundane unease of major life changes steadily escalates and works in tandem with Powatka’s thoughtful attention to seemingly small details, to shift the overall tone from detached dread to a rising tide of fear so intense that readers may need to step out of their own house for a breath of fresh air before finishing this one.
Verdict: A must add title for those who crave immersive, disorienting haunted house stories in the vein of The Grip of It by Jac Jemc, The September House by Carissa Orlando, and House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski.
As I was reading, I noted "why title?" It pays off and makes sense. I enjoyed that. I liked how just as I was thinking hmmmm, title? The story started to show me why. And without being gimmicky.
This is a serious haunted house story. One that is women decide to focus on their marriage or family, where the price women pay for domesticity is part of the story but also there is actually a haunting. This is not it's all in her head.
Tenn is the main character and most of the story is told through her, but her husband Ward does get some turns with point of view.
Begins as a family moves to an old house in a new town (from NC to upstate NY) to start over after some troubles. We learn of the troubles they had/are running from. But unlike many of these stories which make it only about the woman giving up her dreams and career for her husband and kids-- this book makes you think that is what is happening but it turns out all of it, even the things that appear to be this simple-- are not.
That was well done. The reasons Tenn has struggled with her filmmaker career and the reasons she has experienced bouts of depression and the reasons her children and husband are asking things worse with their behavior during the move-- it all begins to make sense from a haunted house standpoint not a price women pay for domesticity. Sure that is an undercurrent, but there is a cool supernatural/ghost based thing happening here.
It also makes fir some cool scenes in the book. I am not giving away what they are, but readers will notice things that seem off or repeated. spread out at first, but speeding up as it goes on.
As someone who read a lot of haunted house books, I appreciate the care Powatka put into telling a story that was well constructed and compelling. The details here are thoughtfully laid out and things come together in original ways. I did not know anything about Pokwatka before reading this book, and after reading, I can say with confidence I would read her next book.
For fans of intense, haunted houses stories that the reader feels-- immersive, disorienting, terrifying-- The Grip of It by Jemc, The September House by Orlando, Wonderland by Stage. Even a bit of House of Leaves here at times.
November 8, 2025
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.
All in all, fast and fun and lets itself down.
This book was received as a free ARC from the publisher.
All in all, fast and fun and lets itself down.
This book was received as a free ARC from the publisher.
November 5, 2025
*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 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.
April 6, 2026
Family Drama, Hauntings, Mental Health, Unreliable Narrator. I loved this one. It was a tough read, especially around the mental health so please check your trigger warnings.
Tenn moves to her dream house with her husband and two children. Although everything seems ideal at first, strange things start occurring. The family begins to spiral and the same scenes play out over and over again; a distant conversation with her husband near the back stairs, her son getting a nail through his foot. The house literally starts to fall apart and their minds start to shatter. But is it really just the house?
This one gave me tons of dread. Tenn’s mental unraveling was terrifying. Even more terrifying was how isolated and alone she was. Not a huge fan of the husband through most of the book. I found it hard to empathize with him. Loved Tenn. I think her curiosity saved her. She demanded to know more so she could save herself and her family.
Tenn moves to her dream house with her husband and two children. Although everything seems ideal at first, strange things start occurring. The family begins to spiral and the same scenes play out over and over again; a distant conversation with her husband near the back stairs, her son getting a nail through his foot. The house literally starts to fall apart and their minds start to shatter. But is it really just the house?
This one gave me tons of dread. Tenn’s mental unraveling was terrifying. Even more terrifying was how isolated and alone she was. Not a huge fan of the husband through most of the book. I found it hard to empathize with him. Loved Tenn. I think her curiosity saved her. She demanded to know more so she could save herself and her family.
November 15, 2025
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
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
May 6, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book
It confuses me how this book started off way too quickly, but then progressed way too slowly to keep me interested. In the first chapter or two, this book started off like the shot of a gun, explaining the situation we are walking into too quickly with too many characters and too much storyline. I really wish this would have eased into the story building instead of overwhelming us with so much information in the first two chapters. After the first two chapters, it took almost half of the book for anything to start making sense. I think there we’re way too many pieces of the puzzle and plot line ideas to keep me engaged. A haunted house, children harming the babysitter, this weird doll, a failing marriage, this husband‘s work, the mom‘s inner turmoil. I either wish that they would have eliminated a few of the aspects or rearranged how they brought each aspect into the story.
This story was disappointing in the same way I felt We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough was disappointing. This isn’t horror, it seems more like a domestic thriller. Maybe I don’t like haunted house stories all that much.
It confuses me how this book started off way too quickly, but then progressed way too slowly to keep me interested. In the first chapter or two, this book started off like the shot of a gun, explaining the situation we are walking into too quickly with too many characters and too much storyline. I really wish this would have eased into the story building instead of overwhelming us with so much information in the first two chapters. After the first two chapters, it took almost half of the book for anything to start making sense. I think there we’re way too many pieces of the puzzle and plot line ideas to keep me engaged. A haunted house, children harming the babysitter, this weird doll, a failing marriage, this husband‘s work, the mom‘s inner turmoil. I either wish that they would have eliminated a few of the aspects or rearranged how they brought each aspect into the story.
This story was disappointing in the same way I felt We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough was disappointing. This isn’t horror, it seems more like a domestic thriller. Maybe I don’t like haunted house stories all that much.
October 27, 2025
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.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 18, 2026
I am having such a hard time rating this one because I really really wanted to love it. I was thoroughly enjoying the beginning. The set up was fantastic, but overtime it completely fizzled out. There were so many different themes without any of them being fully developed. The most exciting plot point just kind of ended without any reasoning and the narrative became super repetitive. I do understand WHY it was repetitive, but I don’t think it needed to be to this extent to get the point across. The ending just kind of… happened? It was a fine ending, but it was lackluster.
Overall, it was a fine book. It was a good enough read. I would still recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.
Overall, it was a fine book. It was a good enough read. I would still recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.
September 6, 2025
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.
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.
November 30, 2025
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!
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!
April 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for my eARC of Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka. A haunting psychological horror story that follows Tenn and her family as she tries to figure out if it is her new house that is haunted or her.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s for this haunting tale, while it started off a little slow for me, Accumulation is a dissection of Tenn and her family and the struggles they endure after relocating. At first you aren’t sure if this is just a psychological decent into madness, but it turns into a unique type of haunting that mixes places and people and how we absorb certain energies from our environments and how that accumulates within us. This story is a slow-burn and there isn’t a high-intensity climax, but I appreciated the mingling of psychological horror and real haunting aspects within Tenn, her home, and her family. I would of loved some scenes that were more terrifying and intense, however this book honestly makes you feel the madness building within the family, and Tenn’s desperation to figure it out, all while she attempts to embrace the changes within herself and her family. I highly recommend Accumulation for those that like to feel the decent into madness in their characters and appreciate a unique ghost story. And can I just say THIS COVER!!! It is phenomenal and instantly grabs your attention. Be sure to check out Accumulation on its release date coming soon on 5/5/26! For all of my reviews and recommendations follow me on instagram @chelleshelf365.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s for this haunting tale, while it started off a little slow for me, Accumulation is a dissection of Tenn and her family and the struggles they endure after relocating. At first you aren’t sure if this is just a psychological decent into madness, but it turns into a unique type of haunting that mixes places and people and how we absorb certain energies from our environments and how that accumulates within us. This story is a slow-burn and there isn’t a high-intensity climax, but I appreciated the mingling of psychological horror and real haunting aspects within Tenn, her home, and her family. I would of loved some scenes that were more terrifying and intense, however this book honestly makes you feel the madness building within the family, and Tenn’s desperation to figure it out, all while she attempts to embrace the changes within herself and her family. I highly recommend Accumulation for those that like to feel the decent into madness in their characters and appreciate a unique ghost story. And can I just say THIS COVER!!! It is phenomenal and instantly grabs your attention. Be sure to check out Accumulation on its release date coming soon on 5/5/26! For all of my reviews and recommendations follow me on instagram @chelleshelf365.
April 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books and Aimee Pokwatka for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a wild ride of impending doom, trippy time loops and a sense of building dread. A haunted house, domestic drama (a husband that does literally nothing, mf pissed me off), and ghosts that want their 5 minutes of fame. This book juggled a lot of different things. I really enjoyed it and my stomach dropped every time they got stuck in a time loop. It made me feel absolutely terrified. Overall, solid horror read for me!
This book was a wild ride of impending doom, trippy time loops and a sense of building dread. A haunted house, domestic drama (a husband that does literally nothing, mf pissed me off), and ghosts that want their 5 minutes of fame. This book juggled a lot of different things. I really enjoyed it and my stomach dropped every time they got stuck in a time loop. It made me feel absolutely terrified. Overall, solid horror read for me!
May 8, 2026
4⭐️
ARC review forthcoming.
ARC review forthcoming.
September 28, 2025
"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
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
Want to Read
August 26, 2025ooooooh this one sounds great! Who is haunted - the family, the house - or the mother?
April 4, 2026
3.75/5
I really enjoyed this book! Although a lot of it is a story that’s been told over and over again it still felt refreshing at times and had its own uniqueness to it. I don’t want to say much since this was an ARC and will not be released for another month I’ll say it’s definitely worth a read if you like haunted house stories. It had some really great moments in it and I loved Pokwatka’s writing style!
I really enjoyed this book! Although a lot of it is a story that’s been told over and over again it still felt refreshing at times and had its own uniqueness to it. I don’t want to say much since this was an ARC and will not be released for another month I’ll say it’s definitely worth a read if you like haunted house stories. It had some really great moments in it and I loved Pokwatka’s writing style!
December 15, 2025
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam’s Sons for the ebook copy of Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka.
📝 Short Summary
Tennessee Cherish and her husband move into their dream house, hoping for a fresh start and a way to save their struggling marriage, but the new home quickly begins unraveling around them. Strange noises, disturbing discoveries, eerie repetitions, and escalating behavior from the children force Tenn to question whether the house is haunted or if something much deeper is rotting underneath the surface of their family itself.
💭 Review
This book felt like domestic horror slowly peeling its own skin back layer by layer, and honestly I loved the way it was written.
What really worked for me with Accumulation was how the haunting never felt separate from the marriage. The house and the relationship are completely intertwined, and the more the home begins to crack apart, repeat itself, and become unstable, the more you see how fragile everything underneath their family already was. It’s one of those horror books where the supernatural elements feel deeply emotional instead of just creepy for the sake of being creepy.
And honestly? The husband annoyed me SO much.
There’s this constant feeling throughout the book that Tenn is carrying the emotional, mental, and physical weight of everything while he drifts in and out emotionally pretending things are still manageable. That frustration added so much tension for me because the horror does not just come from the house itself, it comes from feeling unseen, isolated, overwhelmed, and slowly consumed by domestic expectations while nobody fully understands how bad things are getting.
Tenn as a main character really worked for me because she feels exhausted in such a believable way. She’s trying to hold together motherhood, marriage, moving, loneliness, emotional disconnection, and increasingly disturbing events all at once. The story captures that drowning feeling perfectly, where everyday life starts becoming warped and repetitive until even normal routines feel threatening.
The atmosphere was so unsettling too. The faucet running, the doll appearing everywhere, the tooth hidden in the floorboards, the strange loops repeating over and over. It creates this slow creeping dread where the house feels wrong long before things fully spiral. I loved that the horror was patient. It builds quietly and emotionally instead of throwing nonstop chaos at the reader immediately.
One of my favorite things about this book honestly was the symbolism woven into the house itself. The dream house is supposed to represent safety, success, family, stability, and this perfect fresh start, but instead it becomes a physical manifestation of all the pressure, resentment, emotional distance, and cracks already existing inside the marriage. The house is literally coming apart while the relationship is doing the exact same thing. I thought that was done incredibly well.
This also felt very grounded in the realities of motherhood and domestic life in a way that made the horror hit harder. Tenn’s isolation feels painfully real at times. There’s this lingering question underneath everything:
how much of this haunting is supernatural, and how much is emotional exhaustion, loneliness, and years of unmet needs building pressure inside a home?
I really love horror that uses haunted houses as emotional metaphors instead of just spooky locations, and this book absolutely delivered that for me. It felt tense, emotional, eerie, frustrating, and honestly sad underneath the horror too.
The pacing may not work for readers wanting nonstop action because this is definitely more of a slow burn psychological domestic horror story, but for me, that slower unraveling made the emotional payoff stronger.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely if you love domestic horror, slow burn haunted house stories, emotionally layered relationships, unsettling atmosphere, and horror that explores marriage, motherhood, resentment, and emotional isolation alongside the supernatural elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam’s Sons for the ebook copy of Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka.
📝 Short Summary
Tennessee Cherish and her husband move into their dream house, hoping for a fresh start and a way to save their struggling marriage, but the new home quickly begins unraveling around them. Strange noises, disturbing discoveries, eerie repetitions, and escalating behavior from the children force Tenn to question whether the house is haunted or if something much deeper is rotting underneath the surface of their family itself.
💭 Review
This book felt like domestic horror slowly peeling its own skin back layer by layer, and honestly I loved the way it was written.
What really worked for me with Accumulation was how the haunting never felt separate from the marriage. The house and the relationship are completely intertwined, and the more the home begins to crack apart, repeat itself, and become unstable, the more you see how fragile everything underneath their family already was. It’s one of those horror books where the supernatural elements feel deeply emotional instead of just creepy for the sake of being creepy.
And honestly? The husband annoyed me SO much.
There’s this constant feeling throughout the book that Tenn is carrying the emotional, mental, and physical weight of everything while he drifts in and out emotionally pretending things are still manageable. That frustration added so much tension for me because the horror does not just come from the house itself, it comes from feeling unseen, isolated, overwhelmed, and slowly consumed by domestic expectations while nobody fully understands how bad things are getting.
Tenn as a main character really worked for me because she feels exhausted in such a believable way. She’s trying to hold together motherhood, marriage, moving, loneliness, emotional disconnection, and increasingly disturbing events all at once. The story captures that drowning feeling perfectly, where everyday life starts becoming warped and repetitive until even normal routines feel threatening.
The atmosphere was so unsettling too. The faucet running, the doll appearing everywhere, the tooth hidden in the floorboards, the strange loops repeating over and over. It creates this slow creeping dread where the house feels wrong long before things fully spiral. I loved that the horror was patient. It builds quietly and emotionally instead of throwing nonstop chaos at the reader immediately.
One of my favorite things about this book honestly was the symbolism woven into the house itself. The dream house is supposed to represent safety, success, family, stability, and this perfect fresh start, but instead it becomes a physical manifestation of all the pressure, resentment, emotional distance, and cracks already existing inside the marriage. The house is literally coming apart while the relationship is doing the exact same thing. I thought that was done incredibly well.
This also felt very grounded in the realities of motherhood and domestic life in a way that made the horror hit harder. Tenn’s isolation feels painfully real at times. There’s this lingering question underneath everything:
how much of this haunting is supernatural, and how much is emotional exhaustion, loneliness, and years of unmet needs building pressure inside a home?
I really love horror that uses haunted houses as emotional metaphors instead of just spooky locations, and this book absolutely delivered that for me. It felt tense, emotional, eerie, frustrating, and honestly sad underneath the horror too.
The pacing may not work for readers wanting nonstop action because this is definitely more of a slow burn psychological domestic horror story, but for me, that slower unraveling made the emotional payoff stronger.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely if you love domestic horror, slow burn haunted house stories, emotionally layered relationships, unsettling atmosphere, and horror that explores marriage, motherhood, resentment, and emotional isolation alongside the supernatural elements.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Accumulation has an interesting concept with solid thematic potential. We follow Tennessee Cherish (yes, that's her name), a former documentarian who gives up her career to raise her and her husband Ward's two children. After they move into her dream house in suburban New York for Ward's lucrative new job, things begin to figuratively and literally fall apart as Tenn struggles with not only the stress and loneliness of stay-at-home parenthood, but paranormal forces determined to torment her family.
The first 2/3rds consists of ghosts mildly pranking and moderately inconveniencing the family, Tenn and her children becoming increasingly mentally drained by them (Ward is mostly fine for most of the book he's an absentee father I guess), then her thinking, "there has to be an explanation for this, it can't possibly be ghosts". This isn't a terribly long book, but this cycle gets old pretty quick, and it feels like not much of consequence happens for most of the book. Later, the ghosts trap everyone but Tenn into bouts of hypnotically performing the same tasks on a loop, which I interpreted as a manifestation of Tenn feeling trapped in her domestic routine, but that's about as far as the author goes in using horror elements to explore the story's themes.
The characterization is pretty sparse across the board, but for Ward in particular. He's repeatedly described as a problem solver who always tries to make things right (and not much beyond that), but when it comes down to it, he constantly avoids addressing the issues with his marriage or helping Tenn with domestic labor. I'm all for characters having flaws to work through, but his journey to becoming an empathetic and supportive husband and father is more of a switch that gets flipped about 90% of the way through for convenience's sake.
It's also a shame that we never get a real glimpse into what his mysterious job for a security camera company actually entails. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but there seem to be possible hints of something dubious going on that totally could have been tied into the plot, but it's glossed over and completely inconsequential to the events of the story.
Honestly, I think the ending was an interesting creative choice in and of itself, but it unfortunately wasn't framed with the nuance it deserved. Without giving away the twist, the "solution" for their ghost problem is unethical, unsettling, and could've left me with the same feeling I have at the end of a good Black Mirror episode. I don't think that was the author's intention, but it would have been much more compelling to depict the last chapter as such instead of a straightforward, noble, net positive for everyone involved.
As for my smaller nitpicks, I found the prose and tone to be inoffensive but bland and awkward at times. I think the story would've benefited from a more atmospheric writing style, but that's more of a personal preference and not everyone's cup of tea. We also switch between Tenn and Ward's points of view from time to time, and their voices are so similar that I sometimes spent the first few paragraphs confused and trying to figure whose perspective the story was being told from.
Accumulation ends up being more of a domestic drama with some thriller elements and ghosts mixed in than a paranormal horror, and while I'm sure there's an audience that would be all for it, that's ultimately what made it fall flat for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first 2/3rds consists of ghosts mildly pranking and moderately inconveniencing the family, Tenn and her children becoming increasingly mentally drained by them (Ward is mostly fine for most of the book he's an absentee father I guess), then her thinking, "there has to be an explanation for this, it can't possibly be ghosts". This isn't a terribly long book, but this cycle gets old pretty quick, and it feels like not much of consequence happens for most of the book. Later, the ghosts trap everyone but Tenn into bouts of hypnotically performing the same tasks on a loop, which I interpreted as a manifestation of Tenn feeling trapped in her domestic routine, but that's about as far as the author goes in using horror elements to explore the story's themes.
The characterization is pretty sparse across the board, but for Ward in particular. He's repeatedly described as a problem solver who always tries to make things right (and not much beyond that), but when it comes down to it, he constantly avoids addressing the issues with his marriage or helping Tenn with domestic labor. I'm all for characters having flaws to work through, but his journey to becoming an empathetic and supportive husband and father is more of a switch that gets flipped about 90% of the way through for convenience's sake.
It's also a shame that we never get a real glimpse into what his mysterious job for a security camera company actually entails. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but there seem to be possible hints of something dubious going on that totally could have been tied into the plot, but it's glossed over and completely inconsequential to the events of the story.
Honestly, I think the ending was an interesting creative choice in and of itself, but it unfortunately wasn't framed with the nuance it deserved. Without giving away the twist, the "solution" for their ghost problem is unethical, unsettling, and could've left me with the same feeling I have at the end of a good Black Mirror episode. I don't think that was the author's intention, but it would have been much more compelling to depict the last chapter as such instead of a straightforward, noble, net positive for everyone involved.
As for my smaller nitpicks, I found the prose and tone to be inoffensive but bland and awkward at times. I think the story would've benefited from a more atmospheric writing style, but that's more of a personal preference and not everyone's cup of tea. We also switch between Tenn and Ward's points of view from time to time, and their voices are so similar that I sometimes spent the first few paragraphs confused and trying to figure whose perspective the story was being told from.
Accumulation ends up being more of a domestic drama with some thriller elements and ghosts mixed in than a paranormal horror, and while I'm sure there's an audience that would be all for it, that's ultimately what made it fall flat for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 5, 2026
When Tennessee’s husband, Ward, got a new, higher-paying job, they finally purchased Tenn’s dream home and moved their two young children across the country to start a new life. But it isn’t long before the “dream house” becomes something of their nightmares when unexplained happenings start to occur- like the strange items, such as human teeth, that they find beneath the floor boards, and the abandoned doll they found when they moved in that seems to follow them from room to room. Tennessee doesn’t want to believe that her beloved house could be haunted, even when her children start acting strange, or when her and Ward start experiencing sinister déjà vu, but Tennessee knows that if she doesn’t stop the events from happening- they’ll stop her, for good.
Aimee Pokwatka’s third novel, “Accumulation” is definitely a haunted house story, but it is so much more than that. Tennessee is a working mother who has chosen, along with her husband, to uproot her family to start a new life, taking on all the stresses that come with that, while investigating the paranormal events that she doesn’t want to believe are actually happening. Although Tennessee is the main character, readers do occasionally hear from Ward, and both perspectives are remarkably different, but equally terrifying.
Right from the start, it was obvious that the house may not be the only thing that is haunted, and finding out the specifics of it are what kept me turning the pages. What was behind the strange happenings and the family’s bizarre behaviours? Will Tennessee be able to save her family, even though it means ignoring everything she believes in? There is no doubt that “Accumulation” will keep readers guessing.
Pokwatka writes a chilling story, but she also manages to connect readers with her flawed, human characters. Of course, I loved the haunted house piece but the “sensitivities” both Aimee and her daughter have, as well as the extra domestic responsibilities that Tennessee takes on as a working mother and devoted wife, definitely made me sympathetic to the protagonist, even if, at first, I didn’t know what role, if any, Tennessee was playing in the hauntings.
“Accumulation” is a creative and unsettling story about the ghosts that haunt us- in our souls, our pasts and even, in our homes. Although I was not familiar with Pokwatka before reading “Accumulation”, I found her writing to be outstanding, sharp and emotional, complete with a powerfully satisfying ending that I know will stick with me.
Expected publication date: May 5, 2026
When Tennessee’s husband, Ward, got a new, higher-paying job, they finally purchased Tenn’s dream home and moved their two young children across the country to start a new life. But it isn’t long before the “dream house” becomes something of their nightmares when unexplained happenings start to occur- like the strange items, such as human teeth, that they find beneath the floor boards, and the abandoned doll they found when they moved in that seems to follow them from room to room. Tennessee doesn’t want to believe that her beloved house could be haunted, even when her children start acting strange, or when her and Ward start experiencing sinister déjà vu, but Tennessee knows that if she doesn’t stop the events from happening- they’ll stop her, for good.
Aimee Pokwatka’s third novel, “Accumulation” is definitely a haunted house story, but it is so much more than that. Tennessee is a working mother who has chosen, along with her husband, to uproot her family to start a new life, taking on all the stresses that come with that, while investigating the paranormal events that she doesn’t want to believe are actually happening. Although Tennessee is the main character, readers do occasionally hear from Ward, and both perspectives are remarkably different, but equally terrifying.
Right from the start, it was obvious that the house may not be the only thing that is haunted, and finding out the specifics of it are what kept me turning the pages. What was behind the strange happenings and the family’s bizarre behaviours? Will Tennessee be able to save her family, even though it means ignoring everything she believes in? There is no doubt that “Accumulation” will keep readers guessing.
Pokwatka writes a chilling story, but she also manages to connect readers with her flawed, human characters. Of course, I loved the haunted house piece but the “sensitivities” both Aimee and her daughter have, as well as the extra domestic responsibilities that Tennessee takes on as a working mother and devoted wife, definitely made me sympathetic to the protagonist, even if, at first, I didn’t know what role, if any, Tennessee was playing in the hauntings.
“Accumulation” is a creative and unsettling story about the ghosts that haunt us- in our souls, our pasts and even, in our homes. Although I was not familiar with Pokwatka before reading “Accumulation”, I found her writing to be outstanding, sharp and emotional, complete with a powerfully satisfying ending that I know will stick with me.
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